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an auxiliary verb (such as `can' or `will') that is used to express modality

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

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.

compare ↑auxiliary

Derived Word: ↑modal

See also: ↑modal auxiliary verb ▪ ↑modal verb  

[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.  

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.

◇

▪ 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?

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▪ 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.