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modal auxiliary
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noun
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.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON âITSâ VS. âITâSâ!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between "itâs" and "its" in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 8
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roostersâ; ______ not even comparable.
Origin of modal auxiliary
First recorded in 1930â35
Words nearby modal auxiliary
mockumentary, mock-up, mod, modacrylic fiber, modal, modal auxiliary, modality, modal logic, mod cons, modding, mode
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022