Meanings
plural modal verbs
- grammarA verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood.
Although at first glance combinations of two modal verbs might seem to be cases of grammatical distortion, their use is scientifically recognised.
2019, Irina S. Lebedeva, Svetlana N. Orlova, “Semantics and pragmatics of the double modal ‘might could’”, in Training, Language and Culture, volume 3, number 2, →DOISynonyms: modal, modal auxiliary, modal auxiliary verb
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood.
More synonyms by meaning
nounan auxiliary verb (such as ‘can’ or ‘will’) that is used to express modality
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Catalan verb modal
- verb modala verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Chinese Mandarin 情態動詞 /情态动词
- 情態動詞 /情态动词 (qíngtài dòngcí)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Czech modální sloveso, způsobové sloveso
- modální slovesoa verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- způsobové slovesoa verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Danish modalverbum, mådesudsagnsord
- modalverbuma verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- mådesudsagnsorda verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Dutch modaal werkwoord
- modaal werkwoorda verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Finnish modaalinen verbi
- modaalinen verbia verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
French modal, verbe modal
- modala verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- verbe modala verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
German Modalverb, Modalverbum
- Modalverba verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- Modalverbuma verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Hungarian modális/módbeliige (segéd)
- modális/módbeliige (segéd)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Icelandic háttarsögn, háttarsagnorð
- háttarsögna verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- háttarsagnorða verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Irish briathar cúntach
- briathar cúntacha verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Italian verbo servile, verbo modale
- verbo servilea verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- verbo modalea verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- servilea verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- modalea verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Japanese 法動詞, 法助動詞
- 法動詞 (hōdōshi)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
- 法助動詞 (hōjodōshi)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Latin verbum modāle
- verbum modālea verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Polish czasownik modalny
- czasownik modalnya verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Portuguese verbo modal
- verbo modala verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Russian мода́льный глаго́л
- мода́льный глаго́л (modálʹnyj glagól)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Spanish verbo modal
- verbo modala verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Swedish modalt verb
- modalt verba verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Ukrainian мода́льне дієсло́во
- мода́льне дієсло́во (modálʹne dijeslóvo)a verb whose primary function is to express grammatical mood
Cite this entry
modal verb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20verb
“modal verb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20verb. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “modal verb,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/modal%20verb.
Source: modal verb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.