modal

Everyday

1. (grammar) A modal, or modal verb, is a helping verb such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will or would, which shows how sure, possible, allowed or necessary something is. tree →
2. (maths) Modal means to do with the mode: the modal value is the one that appears most often in a set of data. tree →
3. (computers) A modal or modal window is a box that pops up on a screen and must be closed before you can go on. tree →
4. (music) Modal means using musical modes, kinds of scale. tree →

In the lessons

In English grammar lessons, modal verbs change meaning: «You must go» (necessary), «You might go» (possible), «You can go» (allowed or able). In maths, the «modal class» or «modal number» is the most common one in a tally chart or list. In apps and websites, a modal pops up to ask «Are you sure?». Phrases: «modal verb», «modal value», «modal class», «modal window».

Examples

• «Must», «should» and «might» are modal verbs. tree →
• In «I can swim», «can» is a modal verb. tree →
• The modal shoe size in our class is 3. tree →
• Find the modal colour from the tally chart. tree →
• Close the modal window to go back to the game. tree →
• Modal verbs show how sure we are about something. tree →

Note

Modal verbs have no -s for he/she/it («She can», not «She cans») and are followed by a verb without «to» («must go», not «must to go»). In maths: the mode is the value that appears most often; if two values tie, there are two modes. Do not confuse the mode with the mean (average) or median (middle).