What is a Modal Auxiliary Verb?

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Modal auxiliary verbs are helping verbs that are used to express feelings, attitudes, or opinions. Using modals, a speaker or writer can express that something is necessary or possible, strong or weak preferences, or they can use modals to give advice or permission. In addition, a speaker or writer can express varying degrees of certainty about an event or activity with modal verbs.

Let's look at some examples.

1. You must eat fruits and vegetables to stay healthy.
2. I could have an apple, or I could have a Big Mac.
3. You might think about buying a new computer soon. Yours is too slow.
4. My boss did not come to work today. He must be sick.
5. My teacher said I should study the grammar rules a little more.
6. My teacher said I could study the grammar rules a little more.
7. May I please borrow your pen? Sure! Here you go.
8. My boss had better give me the day off tomorrow. It's Thanksgiving Day!
9. My car can drive long distances on one tank of gas. It's very fuel efficient.
10. It couldn't possibly snow in Florida!

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Note: for some modals, there is a "phrasal modal" equivalent - it has the same meaning:

1 Word Modal	Phrasal Modal	Example Sentences
can	be able to	I can run really fast. I am able to run really fast.
must	have to	You must do well on your next test! You have to do well on your next test!
should	ought to	My doctor said I should eat healthier foods. My doctor said I ought to eat healthier foods.

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