Modal verb

A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality. They are well-known in European languages.

The modal verbs in English are:

can
could
may
might
must
shall
should
will
would

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Modal Verbs are basically the Secondary auxiliary verbs which are also called defective verbs because of their incomplete verb forms. Modals are used to change the mood of the main verb and they help to incorporate the element of necessity, obligation, capability and permission. See also

English modal auxiliary verb
Grammatical mood
Linguistic modality

Bibliography

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