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English auxiliaries and contractions

For details of the usage of the modal contractions, see the relevant sections of English modal verbs.

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the modal verbs, used in a variety of meanings, principally relating to modality.

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Their uses are detailed at English modal verbs, and tables summarizing their principal meaning contributions can be found in the articles Modal verb and Auxiliary verb.

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The verb ought is sometimes excluded from the class of auxiliaries (specifically the modal auxiliaries) on the grounds that, unlike the principal modals, it requires the to-infinitive rather than the bare infinitive.

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For details about the verbs classed as modal auxiliaries, see English modal verbs.

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the principal modal verbs can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would;

see also