modal
noun[C]
languagespecializeduk/ˈməʊ.dəl/us/ˈmoʊ.dəl/(alsomodal verb)B1
averb, such as "can", "might", and "must", that is used with anotherverbtoexpressanideasuch aspossibilitythat is notexpressedby themainverbof asentence:
情态动词The firstverbin thefollowingsentenceis a modal: We ought topaythegasbill.下面句子中的第一个动词是情态动词：We ought to pay the gas bill.
- We did someexerciseson modalverbs.
- Modalverbscan bequitetricky.
Linguistics: verb forms, tenses & types of verbs
- accusative
- art
- bare infinitive
- bent
- continuous
- infinitive
- participle
- passive
- passivization
- pluperfect
- present
- present participle
- progressive
- the active voice
- the first person
- the future perfect
- the past continuous
- the present continuous
- the present perfect
- the third person
Grammar
Modality: introduction
Modality is about a speaker’s or a writer’s attitude towards the world. A speaker or writer can express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity and ability by using modal words and expressions.…Modal verbs
Here are the main verbs we use to express modal meanings:…Modal words and expressions
There are a number of other words and expressions in English, apart from the main modal verbs, which also express modal meanings.…Modality: forms
Core modal verbs have only one form. They have no to-infinitive form, -ing form, past form or -ed form. We have to reword what we want to say by using other expressions:…Modal verbs
Core modal verbs have only one form. They have no to-infinitive form, -ing form, past form or -ed form. We have to reword what we want to say by using other expressions:…Dare,need,ought toandused to(semi-modal verbs)
Dare, need, ought to and used to are often called semi-modal because in some ways they are formed like modal verbs and in some ways they are like other main verbs.…Modality: meanings and uses
We often use modal verbs or other modal expressions when we want to express an opinion or attitude about a possible fact or to control a possible action. All modal expressions are about the speaker’s or writer’s view of the world.…Modal meaning
We often use modal verbs or other modal expressions when we want to express an opinion or attitude about a possible fact or to control a possible action. All modal expressions are about the speaker’s or writer’s view of the world.…Modal verbs
Often the same modal verb is used to express different meanings.…Modality: tense
Modal verbs do not change in form to make different tenses.…Modal verbs in past, present and future time
Modal verbs do not change in form to make different tenses.…Modality: other verbs
Apart from the core modal verbs, some other common verbs express modal meaning.…Verbs expressing possibility
These verbs express possibility and likelihood:…Verbs expressing obligation
These verbs express obligation, permission and necessity:…Modality: other modal words and expressions
Apart from modal verbs, there are a lot of words which also express modality. They are words which express degrees of certainty or obligation.…Other modal words
Apart from modal verbs, there are a lot of words which also express modality. They are words which express degrees of certainty or obligation.…Other modal expressions
These expressions are also very common in informal speaking: for certain, for sure, for definite:…Modality: expressions withbe
Some expressions with be have modal meanings:…Modality: typical errors
We use the infinitive without to after modal verbs:…Verbs: types
Main verbs have meanings related to actions, events and states. Most verbs in English are main verbs:…Main verbs
Main verbs have meanings related to actions, events and states. Most verbs in English are main verbs:…Linking verbs
Some main verbs are called linking verbs (or copular verbs). These verbs are not followed by objects. Instead, they are followed by phrases which give extra information about the subject (e.g. noun phrases, adjective phrases, adverb phrases or prepositional phrases). Linking verbs include:…Auxiliary verbs
There are three auxiliary verbs in English: be, do and have. Auxiliary verbs come before main verbs.…Modal verbs
The main modal verbs are:…State and action verbs
A verb refers to an action, event or state.…