Tried in Sign Language: How to Sign Try, Tried and Trying in ASL

The short answer

In American Sign Language (ASL), the language most widely used by Deaf communities in the US, try, tried and trying are usually expressed with the same core sign, TRY. ASL does not add an ending to the verb the way English adds -ed or -ing. Instead, signers show when something happened through context or time signs, and show that an action is ongoing or repeated by changing how the sign moves.

This guide does not draw on any verified video reference, dictionary entry or instructor review. The handshape and movement descriptions below follow commonly taught forms. Signs vary by region, community and signer, so check them against a reputable ASL video dictionary or a Deaf ASL instructor before you rely on them.

First, confirm which meaning of tried you need

The English word try covers several ideas, and ASL often uses a different sign for each one. Choosing the wrong meaning changes what you communicate more than any detail of handshape.

English meaning | Example | What to look up in ASL

To attempt or make an effort | I tried to call you | TRY (some signers use a related sign, ATTEMPT)

To sample food or drink | Try this soup | Usually TASTE rather than TRY

To test something out | Try the new camera | TRY or a sign meaning test, depending on context

To put on clothing to check fit | Try on the jacket | Often expressed with the sign for putting on or wearing the item

To hear a case in court | He was tried for theft | A legal or court-related sign, not TRY

The rest of this guide covers the most common meaning: to attempt or make an effort.

How to sign TRY

A handshape is the shape your hand holds while you form a sign. TRY is commonly taught with the T handshape: make a fist and tuck the thumb between the index and middle fingers. Some signers use the S handshape instead, which is a closed fist with the thumb wrapped across the front of the fingers.

• Form the T handshape with both hands.
• Hold both hands in front of your body at about chest height, palms facing each other or angled slightly toward you.
• Move both hands forward and slightly downward together in a small arc, as if pushing through resistance.
• Keep the movement firm and controlled. A strained or determined facial expression can add the sense of effort.

Descriptions differ on the exact palm orientation and the shape of the arc. Small differences of this kind are why a visual source matters more than any written description.

How to show tried

ASL does not mark past tense on the verb itself. To express tried, keep the TRY sign and establish the time in another way.

• Set the time first: open with a time sign such as YESTERDAY, LAST-WEEK or PAST. Then sign TRY. Everything after the time sign is understood as past until the time changes.
• Use a completion sign: signers often add FINISH to show that an action is done. Whether it suits a sentence about trying depends on what you mean, such as having already attempted something versus the attempt being over.
• Rely on established context: if the conversation is already about past events, TRY alone is usually enough.

Avoid fingerspelling the English ending, such as T-R-I-E-D. ASL users would not normally mark tense that way.

How to show trying

English -ing has no direct ASL equivalent. How you sign trying depends on the idea you want to convey.

• A single attempt happening now or soon: TRY with context, such as a time sign like NOW, is usually enough.
• Ongoing or repeated effort, as in kept trying or trying again and again: signers commonly repeat the movement or use a slower, cycling version of it. This change to the movement is called aspect, and it shows how an action unfolds over time.
• An intention, as in I am trying to learn: TRY followed by the action, with context showing the effort is ongoing.

Exact repetition patterns and their nuances vary. This is one of the areas most worth confirming with a fluent signer.

Check your signing on camera

Recording a short practice clip with your webcam or phone lets you compare your sign side by side with a reference video. It is also a useful check if you plan to sign on video calls.

• Make sure the camera is working: the browser or operating system has granted camera access, and the preview shows live video rather than a black or frozen frame. Permission alone does not confirm that video is being captured.
• Frame from roughly the top of your head to your waist, with room on both sides. TRY moves forward and down, so check that your hands stay in view through the whole movement.
• Light your face and hands from the front. Strong light behind you can leave your hands in silhouette and hide the handshape.
• Choose a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin tone and clothing. Virtual background and blur effects in call software can smear or clip fast-moving hands, so turn them off and see whether your signing is clearer without them.
• Watch the clip back at normal speed. Check the handshape, the direction of movement and your facial expression against the reference.
• If the call software lets you check video quality, a smooth frame rate on a stable connection helps others read movement clearly. Seeing a working preview does not guarantee good quality for the other person.

Limitations and next steps

• This guide covers ASL only. British Sign Language, Auslan and other sign languages use different signs and grammar, so look up the language your audience uses.
• No verified video demonstrations, dictionary entries or expert reviews were available for this guide, so treat the handshape and movement descriptions as a starting point.
• Regional and personal variation is normal in ASL. The form your local Deaf community uses is the one to follow.
• For feedback on handshape, movement, facial grammar and natural sentence structure, a Deaf ASL instructor or fluent signer is the most reliable check.