Which term expresses mood or attitude or modifies the meaning of the main verb in a sentence?

• A. Auxiliary
• B. Modal Auxiliary Verb
• C. Main Verb
• D. Finite Verb

Answer: (B)

Mood is expressed by modal auxiliary verbs, which modify the main verb to show how the speaker feels about the action—possibility, ability, necessity, obligation, permission, and similar attitudes. These verbs sit with the main verb and add nuance without changing the core action itself. For example, in “You must finish your homework,” the main verb is “finish,” and “must” conveys obligation, altering the sense of the action. In “She can swim,” “can” expresses ability. After a modal, the main verb stays in its base form (finish, swim), and the modal itself doesn’t carry the action independently. This is why the term that best fits is modal auxiliary verb.