modal auxiliary

noun

1. Grammar. any of the group of English auxiliary verbs, including can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must, that are used with the base form of another verb to express distinctions of mood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of modal auxiliary¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

This cartoon explains a traditional rule about two common modal auxiliaries: At least Mrs. O’Malley didn’t give the standard grown-up’s answer to a child’s request with cart: “You can, but the question is, may you?”

From Literature

"They have time for it, evidently," she mused, "and after all it is certainly more important than modal auxiliaries!"

From Project Gutenberg