How can Deaf and Hard of Hearing people improve their English grammar skills?

Question

Many learners find ASL grammar quite different from English. What are the main grammatical features that set ASL apart, and how do these differences affect learning the language?

Answer 1

Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners can improve their English grammar skills through explicit, visual instruction that highlights the key differences between ASL and English, such as ASL’s topic-comment structure, lack of articles, and use of spatial grammar. Because ASL grammar differs significantly from English syntax and verb usage, learners often transfer ASL patterns into English, which can cause common errors; understanding these differences helps tailor effective grammar instruction.