American Sign Language:  "past" or "before"

 

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Also see: Past: "A while ago."

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Also see: Past: "A long time ago."

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PAST:
The sign for "past" is made by moving your dominant hand over your dominant shoulder.  Your palm should face your body. The more emphasis you give the motion and/or the larger movement you use indicates further into the past:

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"before"
"last" as in "last night"
previously

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Use to be...
A while back...
Back when...

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Once upon a time, long, long, ago...
 

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Hey man, that's ancient history!

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Note: If you mean "before" as in "before you do that you should do this..." you should use the sign PRIOR-before.

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