Directions

• In your groups take the sentences and organize them into two logical categories.

• I will come check them and see if you have figured out the pattern.

If you’re still stumped…

• Your category titles are:

–WHEN something started–HOW LONG something has

been going on.

Which sentences talk about WHEN something started?

• My nephew has played soccer ever since he was 4 years old.

• She’s been throwing up ever since she ate the old seafood.

• I’ve been awake since 5:30 a.m.

• Since he fell on the ice, his butt has been sore.

Which sentences talk about HOW LONG something’s been going on?• Mrs. Mair has taught ASL for 7 years.

• The neighbors have always argued.

• Stephanie has played the flute for 14 years.

• Paul has lived in Westerville for the past two years.

ASL Time Concepts…

…there’s more than just

In both English and ASL we can talk about something that happened in

the past, present, and future.

–I walked my dog. (DOG WALK-ME FINISH)

–I am walking my dog. (DOG WALK-ME)

–I will walk my dog. (DOG WALK-ME WILL)

But that’s not all…

• In English we can also talk about something that started in the past and continues into the future.

– Ever since I ate that hotdog, my stomach has hurt.

– My stomach has hurt for 3 hours.

• In ASL we can sign the exact same sentences, but depending on what’s being said, we would sign it differently.

– ME EAT HOT DOG SINCE ME PAIN-STOMACH

– SINCE 3-HOURS ME PAIN-STOMACH

For you visual people…

• The Event…

PAST

PRESENT

FUTURE

1

2

3

1. Started at some point in time in the past….

2. The event is a continuous event…

3. And the event is continuing into the present.

This sign SINCE can be voiced/translated:

– Since - Up until now

– All along - From the time

– For - For the last

– Ever since - For the past

HOWEVER…

• They are not signed in the same word order that we say it in English.

• It depends on the TYPE of “time information” that is given.

Specific Point in Time

• aka….SPIT

• The SPIT can be a TIME, DAY, a DATE, or just an EVENT that happened in the past.

• All of these identify the “starting point” of the SINCE sign.

SPIT examples

• English:– Mary ate dinner last night, and has been sick

ever since.

• ASL: – LAST NIGHT MARY EAT DINNER,SINCE

SICK

SPIT examples

• English:– Bill has lived on Main Street since he moved

to Westerville in 1990.

• ASL: – 1990 BILL MOVE-TO WESTERVILLE, SINCE

ix lt HE LIVE MAIN STREET

SPIT examples

• English:– Don has taught at OSU since he was fired

from Otterbein.

• ASL: – OTTERBEIN FIRE DON SINCE ix lf HE

TEACH OSU

SPIT examples

• English:– In 2001 Todd met Elizabeth, and they have

been friends ever since.

• ASL: – 2001 ix lf TODD, ix rt ELIZABETH TWO-OF-

THEM MEET, SINCE TWO-OF-THEM FRIENDS

Period of Time

• aka POT

• All of these do not give a specific starting point, but they do identify how long (Period of Time) the event or activity has been going on.

POT examples

• English:– Mary has been sick for the last three weeks.

• ASL:– SINCE THREE-WEEKS M-A-R-Y SICK

POT EXAMPLES

• English:– Bill has lived on Main St. for the last 19 years.

• ASL:– SINCE 19 YEARS, B-I-L-L LIVE M-A-I-N

STREET

POT EXAMPLES

• English:– For the past six years Don has taught at OSU.

• ASL:– SINCE 6-YEARS D-O-N TEACH O-S-U.

POT EXAMPLES

• English:– Todd and Elizabeth have been friends for

eight years.

• ASL:– SINCE 8-YEARS ix lf T-O-D-D, ix rt

E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H TWO-OF-THEM FRIENDS

SPIT in the POT

SPIT

Time

And/or

event

POT

Time

AND

Event

• An easy way to remember the difference is that a SPIT always has a

CAUSE and EFFECT

One last thing to point out…

• In English the word “since” can sometimes mean “because”.– I can’t go out since I’m sick.

• In those cases, you would make it a rhetorical sentence and sign “why?”– ME CAN’T GO-OUT WHY (rh-), ME SICK

More examples…

• My son has been running around since he learned to walk.

• My son has been running around for 6 months.

More examples…

• I’ve played the piano for 12 years.

• Since I was 12 I’ve played the piano.

More examples…

• Bob’s wanted to marry Megan Fox for 3 years.

• Ever since Bob saw Megan Fox’s picture, he’s wanted to marry her.

More examples…

• Bob’s played hockey since he was in 1st grade.

• Bob’s played hockey for 12 years

More examples…

• Ever since Sue kissed Ann’s boyfriend, she’s hated her.

• Ann has hated Sue for 3 months.