Definitions for modal auxiliary
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Random House Webster's College Dictionary
mod′al auxil′iary(n.)
any of a group of auxiliary verbs, in English including can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, and must, typically used with the base form of another verb to express distinctions of mood.
Category: Grammar
Origin of modal auxiliary:
1930–35
Wiktionary
modal auxiliary(Noun)
a verb used to express the mood (or tense) of another verb
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