Word Study
modal auxiliary
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun modal auxiliary has 1 sense
- modal auxiliary(n = noun.communication) modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal verb - an auxiliary verb (such as `can' or `will') that is used to express modality; Array is a kind of auxiliary verb
CIDE DICTIONARY
modal auxiliary, n.
Any one of the auxiliary verbs of English, such as can , may , will , shall , must , might , could , would , or should , which are used together with the infinitive form of another verb to express distinctions of mood{2}, such as uncertainty, possibility, command, emphasis, and obligation. [PJC]
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