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modal auxiliary

The definition of a modal auxiliary is a verb that is used with another verb to express a mood or tense.

(verb)

Examples of a modal auxiliary include can, may, must, ought, shall, should, will and would.
An example of a modal auxiliary is the word "must" in the sentence "she must attend the party."

See modal auxiliary in Webster's New World College Dictionary

an auxiliary verb that is used with another verb to indicate its mood, as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would: it has no special form in the third person singular and no present or past participle [the modal auxiliary “would” indicates the subjunctive mood in “We would go if we could”]

See modal auxiliary in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A verb characteristically used with other verbs to express mood or tense. In English, the modal auxiliaries are can, may, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would. Also called modal.

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modal auxiliary in a sentence

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