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In [[linguistics]], a type of [[auxiliary verb]] that expresses [[modality (linguistics)|modality]]. In [[English (language)|English]], modal verbs are a specific class of verbs that express modality and share certain [[syntax|syntactic]] features. The English modals are '''must''', '''may''', '''can''', and '''shall'''. '''Will''' is also sometimes considered a modal in English, since it behaves similarly, although in [[modern English]] it expresses [[future tense]] and not modality.

The most noticeable feature of English modal verbs that sets them apart from most other auxiliaries is that they always take a bare [[infinitive]] rather than a "to" infinitive. They are also distinguished by the following syntactic features:
* '''Negation''' - "I couldn't come!"
* '''Inversion''' - "Could you come?" instead of "Come you?" the modal may invert with the subject
* '''Code''' - "You could come, couldn't you?"
* '''Emphatic affirmation''' - "I could come!" (if I want to) to stress the modal