modal verb

modal verb
noun
an auxiliary verb (such as `can' or `will') that is used to express modality
• Hypernyms: ↑auxiliary verb

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noun, pl ⋯ verbs [count]
grammar : a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission — called also modal, modal auxiliary, modal auxiliary verb

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modal [ˈməʊdl] [ˈmoʊdl] (also modal ˈverb, modal auˈxiliary, modal auˈxiliary verb) noun (grammar)
a verb such as can, may or will that is used with another verb (not a modal) to express possibility, permission, intention, etc.
Derived Word: ↑modal
See also: ↑modal auxiliary verb ▪ ↑modal verb  
Word Origin:
[modal] mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin modalis, from Latin modus ‘measure’, from an Indo-European root shared by ↑mete; compare with ↑mood in its grammatical sense.  
Grammar Point:
modal verbs
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form:

▪ He can speak three languages.

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▪ She will try and visit tomorrow.

Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to and used to:

▪ You must find a job.

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▪ You ought to stop smoking.

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▪ I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.

Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:

▪ Can I invite Mary?

◇

▪ Should I have invited Mary?

Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.
You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • modal verb — also modal n technical one of these verb forms: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, used to, need, had better, and ↑dare. They are all used with other verbs to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • modal verb — modal ,verb noun count LINGUISTICS a verb such as can, might, should, etc. that is used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • modal verb — ► NOUN Grammar ▪ an auxiliary verb expressing necessity or possibility, e.g. must, shall, will …   English terms dictionary

  • Modal verb — A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation.[1]:p.33 The use of auxiliary verbs to express modality is… …   Wikipedia

  • modal verb — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms modal verb : singular modal verb plural modal verbs linguistics a verb such as can , might , should etc that is used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention …   English dictionary

  • modal verb — noun An auxiliary verb whose primary function is to express mood. Syn: modal, modal auxiliary …   Wiktionary

  • modal verb — noun (C) technical one of these verb forms: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, used to, need, had better, and dare . They are all used with other verbs to change their meaning by expressing ideas such as… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • ˈmodal ˌverb — [ˈməʊd(ə)l] noun [C] linguistics a verb such as ‘can , ‘may , ‘should etc that is used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • modal verb — /moʊdəl ˈvɜb/ (say mohduhl verb) noun an auxiliary verb that expresses such things as the degree of probability attached by the speaker to the statement (I might come, the sun will rise) or the degree of obligation (he should speak up, the court… …  

  • modal verb — noun Grammar an auxiliary verb expressing necessity or possibility, e.g. must, shall, will …   English new terms dictionary

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