MODAL AUXILIARY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does modal auxiliary mean? 

• MODAL AUXILIARY (noun)
  The noun MODAL AUXILIARY has 1 sense:

1. an auxiliary verb (such as 'can' or 'will') that is used to express modality

  Familiarity information: MODAL AUXILIARY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MODAL AUXILIARY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An auxiliary verb (such as 'can' or 'will') that is used to express modality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

modal; modal auxiliary; modal auxiliary verb; modal verb

Hypernyms ("modal auxiliary" is a kind of...):

auxiliary verb (a verb that combines with another verb in a verb phrase to help form tense, mood, voice, or condition of the verb it combines with)