They are used to indicate modality and allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability List of modal verbs.They are always followed by an infinitive without 'to' (i.e., the bare infinitive.).Here are some characteristics of modal verbs: They have a great variety of communicative functions. They are different from normal verbs like 'work, play, visit.' They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, and modal auxiliaries) are special verbs that behave irregularly in English.