How to Sign "Will"
to sign 'will', relax the dominant hand so it lays flat. bring it up towards the ear with the palm facing inwards. bring the hand out and down, so the sign ends extended past the head with the fingertips pointed out.
Examples Using "Will" in a Sentence
1
I will go to the store tomorrow.
Sign 'I', then use the forward, out-and-down motion of the flat hand to indicate 'will', followed by 'go', 'store', and 'tomorrow'. The forward motion of 'will' perfectly establishes the future tense of your sentence.
2
Will you help me?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'help me', and use the 'will' sign moving past your head. Make sure to raise your eyebrows while signing to indicate that you are asking a yes/no question about the future.
3
We will see.
Sign 'we', then use the 'will' sign starting near your ear and moving forward and down, finishing with the sign for 'see'. The forward extension emphasizes that the realization will happen later in time.
How to Sign "Will"
to sign 'will', relax the dominant hand so it lays flat. bring it up towards the ear with the palm facing inwards. bring the hand out and down, so the sign ends extended past the head with the fingertips pointed out.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
In American Sign Language, time is visually mapped onto the body. The space directly in front of the signer represents the future, the body represents the present, and the space behind represents the past. The sign for 'will' physically moves forward from the head into the space ahead, visually demonstrating moving forward in time.
Signing Tips
Focus on the timeline concept in ASL. The space in front of your body represents the future. Make sure your hand moves clearly forward and down from the side of your head to emphasize that the action is happening ahead in time. Keep your hand relaxed but intentional.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is making the movement too small or keeping the hand too close to the face. If the hand doesn't extend out past the head, it might fail to clearly establish the future tense. Another mistake is using a stiff, rigid hand instead of the required relaxed flat hand.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Will" in a Sentence
1I will go to the store tomorrow.
Sign 'I', then use the forward, out-and-down motion of the flat hand to indicate 'will', followed by 'go', 'store', and 'tomorrow'. The forward motion of 'will' perfectly establishes the future tense of your sentence.
2Will you help me?
Point to the person for 'you', sign 'help me', and use the 'will' sign moving past your head. Make sure to raise your eyebrows while signing to indicate that you are asking a yes/no question about the future.
3We will see.
Sign 'we', then use the 'will' sign starting near your ear and moving forward and down, finishing with the sign for 'see'. The forward extension emphasizes that the realization will happen later in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need to sign 'will' for future events?
Not necessarily! If you already establish a future time word like 'tomorrow' or 'next week' at the beginning of your sentence, you often don't need to add the sign for 'will'. The time word already sets the entire sentence in the future tense.
Is this the same sign as 'future'?
Yes, this sign is often used interchangeably for 'will', 'future', and 'someday'. The core meaning is simply that something is happening forward in time. Sometimes, a larger or repeated movement is used specifically to emphasize the word 'future'.
Why does the sign start near the ear?
The side of the head or cheek is a common starting point for time-related signs in ASL. Moving from the side of the head forward clearly illustrates a concept or action moving from the present moment into the future timeline.
ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!