What are modal verbs?

Modal verbs are a specific type of auxiliary verb that provide additional meaning to the main verb in a sentence, particularly related to ability, possibility, permission, obligation, or necessity. For instance, in the sentences "She can swim," "can" indicates ability; "You must study," "must" conveys necessity; and "It may rain," "may" expresses possibility.

This category of verbs includes common ones such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. Unlike regular verbs, modal verbs do not follow traditional conjugation patterns and do not change form based on the subject. Instead, they generally remain the same regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

Understanding modal verbs is crucial for expressing different shades of meaning and modifying the intent of statements in English, making them an essential component of conversational and written language.