To sign 'I'm not', begin by forming an 'A' handshape with your dominant hand, keeping your thumb extended. Place the tip of your thumb under your chin and move it forward to sign 'not'. Next, bring your hand down to your chest, pointing your thumb toward yourself to indicate 'I' or 'me'. Be sure to shake your head side-to-side while signing to grammatically reinforce the negative statement.
Sign 'I'm not' as described, followed by the sign for 'hungry' (moving a 'C' handshape down your chest).
Sign 'I'm not', then 'ready' (shaking two 'R' hands outward), and finish with 'yet' (bending your dominant hand at the wrist).
Sign 'I'm not', then 'student' (taking 'knowledge' from your non-dominant palm and bringing it to your brain, followed by the person marker).
Sign 'I'm not' as described, followed by the sign for 'hungry' (moving a 'C' handshape down your chest).
Sign 'I'm not', then 'ready' (shaking two 'R' hands outward), and finish with 'yet' (bending your dominant hand at the wrist).
Sign 'I'm not', then 'student' (taking 'knowledge' from your non-dominant palm and bringing it to your brain, followed by the person marker).
ASL has flexible word order, so you can sign 'I NOT' or 'NOT ME'. The version shown here starts with 'not' and flows naturally into 'me', which is a very common and conversational way to express 'I'm not'.
While the standard sign for 'I' or 'me' uses the index finger, using the thumb from the 'A' handshape allows for a smoother, quicker transition from the sign for 'not'. It's a natural shortcut used in fluent signing.
No, 'I'm not' is used for states of being or identity (like 'I'm not tired' or 'I'm not a doctor'). For possession, you would use the specific sign for 'don't have' or sign 'have' while shaking your head.
