Sign for -ING Suffix in ASL
Quick answer: The -ING suffix in ASL is fingerspelled I-N-G. It is one of the most useful endings for recognizing English-based fingerspelled words.
How to Recognize -ING
The I-N-G pattern shows up constantly in English. Once students recognize it as a unit, the end of a fingerspelled word becomes much easier to process.
| Dominant Handshape | I, N, G |
|---|---|
| Non-Dominant Handshape | N/A |
| Location | Neutral signing space |
| Palm Orientation | Varies by letter |
| Movement | Fingerspelled sequence |
| Non-Manual Markers | None |
Why It Matters
-ING is not how ASL marks ongoing action. This page is about fingerspelling reception: seeing I-N-G quickly when it appears in an English word.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming -ING works like ASL grammar.
- Missing the final G.
- Reading it letter-by-letter even after the pattern becomes familiar.
Example
ASL gloss: R-U-N-N-I-N-G
English meaning: running
Responses