modal auxiliary

2 definitions found

modal auxiliary - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  modal auxiliary \mo"dal aux*il"iar*y\(Gram.), 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]

modal auxiliary - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  modal auxiliary
      n 1: an auxiliary verb (such as `can' or `will') that is used to
           express modality [syn: modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary
           , modal verb, modal]