Which of the following is an example of an inflecting (directional) verb?

• A. GIVE
• B. EAT
• C. SLEEP
• D. THINK

Answer: (A)

In ASL, inflecting (directional) verbs convey who is performing the action and who receives it by the sign’s movement through space. GIVE is a classic example because you start with the object near you and move toward the recipient’s location, showing that you are giving to that person. The direction changes to reflect different receivers, which is exactly how directional verbs operate.

The other signs describe actions but don’t use movement to indicate a recipient or transfer, so they aren’t directional verbs in the same sense. EAT, SLEEP, and THINK convey the actions themselves without shifting direction toward another person.