What term describes an auxiliary verb that expresses attitude toward the main verb and does not inflect like a normal verb?

• A. Modal auxiliary verb
• B. Auxiliary noun
• C. Primary verb
• D. Finite verb

Answer: (A)

Modality is shown by a modal auxiliary verb: these helpers express the speaker’s attitude toward the action of the main verb—such as possibility, ability, permission, or obligation—and they don’t inflect like ordinary verbs. Words like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, and ought to are classic examples. They accompany the main verb in its base form (can go, might finish) and don’t take usual endings like -s for third person or -ed/-ing for tense or aspect. They can’t stand alone as the main verb; they require another verb to complete the meaning. This distinguishes them from primary/lexical verbs or finite verbs, which carry tense and subject agreement and can function as the main predicate. So the term that describes an auxiliary verb expressing attitude toward the main verb and not inflecting like a normal verb is modal auxiliary verb.