Home > Reference > Glossary > M > Modal Verbs

Term: Modal Verbs

Definition:

Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility, intention, obligation and necessity.

CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, DARE and NEED are some examples.

eg: I would have told you, if you had wanted me to.

eg: Yes, I can do that.

See Also: Auxiliary Verb; Deontic Modality; Dynamic Modality; Ditransitive Verb; Dynamic Verb; Epistemic Modality; Finite Verb; Inchoative Verb; Intransitive Verb; Irregular Verb; Non-finite Verb; Phrasal Verb; Regular Verb; Stative Verb; Transitive Verb; Verb Group; Verb Phrase

Browse the following links to other content related to 'Modal Verbs' from the 'Modals' grammar category:

Beginner:

Intermediate:

Advanced:

GENERAL:

Legal: