modaal

Modaal, in linguistics, refers to modality—the grammatical expression of a speaker's attitude toward the possibility, necessity, obligation, permission, or ability related to a proposition. The term is often translated as "modal" in English, and as "modaal" in Dutch-language linguistic literature. Modality is distinguished from tense and aspect by focusing on the speaker's assessment rather than the time of the event.

Modal categories include epistemic modality, which expresses probability or evidence about the truth of a proposition (for example, might, could); deontic modality, which expresses obligation, permission, or prohibition (such as must, may); and dynamic or ability modality, which expresses capability (such as can). Many languages arrange these ideas into one or more modal systems that can be signaled by auxiliary verbs, mood markers, or dedicated constructions. Some languages also differentiate degrees of necessity or certainty within these categories.

Morphology and syntax: In many languages, modals function as auxiliary-like elements that accompany a main verb and can influence tense, aspect, or mood. They often show limited person agreement and may require the following verb in an infinitive or bare stem. For example, English uses can and must with the base form of the main verb (I can go, you must go). Dutch uses kunnen, moeten, mogen, and other modals with a following infinitive, with details varying by language and dialect. Some languages encode modality through internal verb forms rather than separate modals.

Cross-linguistic variation: Some languages have explicit mood systems beyond a modal class, or rely on evidential markers and adverbial strategies to express stance. Others express modality primarily through aspect, polarity, or discourse context. The study of modaal intersects semantics, syntax, pragmatics, and typology, and it is a central topic in descriptions of language meaning and structure.