One of the first things new ASL learners notice is that something feels… missing.
Where are the words is, am, and are?
If you’re used to English, this can feel strange at first. But here’s the important truth:
ASL doesn’t need “is, am, are” to be clear, grammatical, or complete.
Let’s break down why.
American Sign Language is its own language, with its own grammar and structure. It did not evolve from English, and it does not follow English sentence rules.
In English, we rely heavily on linking verbs:
These verbs help connect the subject to a description.
In ASL, that connection is handled differently—visually, not verbally.
ASL is a visual language. Instead of inserting small linking words, ASL shows meaning through:
For example:
English:
I am happy.
ASL concept:
I HAPPY.
No verb is missing. The meaning is complete.
The facial expression and body language do the work that “am” does in English.
In ASL, facial expressions aren’t optional—they’re grammatical.
Raised eyebrows, head tilt, eye gaze, and mouth movements can indicate:
So when you sign HAPPY, your facial expression already communicates the state of being. There’s no need for “is” or “am.”
English uses many small helper words to glue sentences together. ASL focuses on core meaning instead.
Words ASL typically does not use include:
These words don’t add visual meaning, so ASL leaves them out.
This doesn’t make ASL “simpler”—it makes it more efficient.
| English | ASL Concept |
|---|---|
| She is a student | SHE STUDENT |
| The book is blue | BOOK BLUE |
| They are friends | THEY FRIEND |
| I am tired | I TIRED |
Notice something important:
Nothing is unclear. The message is still strong and complete.
New learners often try to sign:
SHE IS TEACHER
This happens because of English interference—your brain is translating word-for-word instead of concept-to-concept.
Learning ASL means learning to let go of English structure and trust the visual grammar of ASL.
When learners finally stop asking “Where is is?” and start thinking in concepts, something clicks.
They:
That’s a huge milestone.
ASL doesn’t use “is, am, are” because it doesn’t need them.
Meaning in ASL is created through:
Once you stop trying to force English grammar onto ASL, the language becomes clearer, more expressive, and more fun to use.
And that’s when ASL really starts to feel natural.