TOEIC® Modals: Rules, Nuances, and Strategies to Boost Your Score on Part 5

Modals are auxiliary verbs that express possibility, obligation, permission, or ability. In the TOEIC®, they appear in all sections (5, 6, and 7), but Section 5 is where they cause the most issues.

The typical example: choosing between "must" and "have to" in a business email, or understanding whether "should have done" refers to the present or the past.

The main trap? Their unchanging structure. No -s in the third person, and no "to" after the modal. And nuances in meaning between similar modals can make all the difference.

The 9 Modals You Need to Know for the TOEIC®

These modals come up most frequently in the test, along with their primary meaning and typical context:

Basic Construction

All modals follow the same rule: modal + base verb (infinitive without "to"). No -s, no -ed, no -ing after the modal.

• The manager can review the document tomorrow.
  

Frequent error in Section 5: "can reviews" or "can to review." These forms do not exist.

The 3 Errors That Cost Points in Section 5

Error 1: Confusing a Modal with a Main Verb

Many test-takers hesitate between "must" and "have to." Both convey obligation, but "must" is a modal, while "have to" is a verbal construction that conjugates.

• She must attend the training -> Correct.
  
• She has to attend the training -> Correct.
  
• She must to attend / She musts attend -> Incorrect.

Generally, the issues arise primarily in negative and interrogative forms. "Must" becomes "must not" (prohibition), whereas "have to" becomes "don't have to" (no obligation). This is not the same thing.

Error 2: Forgetting the Past Tense Form of Modals

Modals do not have a direct past tense form. To talk about the past, we use modal + have + past participle.

• She should have submitted the application last week.
  

This structure causes problems in Sections 6 and 7. You need to understand whether the action has already been completed or not. "Should have done" expresses regret or criticism about the past, whereas "should do" gives advice for the future.

Error 3: Translating Literally from Your Native Language

In many languages, the same word expresses both ability ("I know how to do it") and permission ("I have the right to do it"). In English, "can" covers both meanings. However, in the TOEIC®, formal contexts prefer "may" for permission.

Formal context:

• May I schedule a meeting with you?
  

Informal context:

• Can I borrow your pen?
  

In Section 7, internal emails often use "can." Letters to clients or suppliers prefer "may." Recognizing this detail helps eliminate wrong answers.

Modals and Nuances of Meaning: Comparison Table

Some modals look similar but do not have the same degree of certainty or formality. This table helps distinguish them quickly:

TOEIC® context example:

• The shipment might arrive tomorrow. (low possibility)
  
• The shipment should arrive tomorrow. (probable expectation)
  
• The shipment will arrive tomorrow. (certainty)
  

For many test-takers, confusion between "might" and "should" comes up very often in Section 5. The difference lies in the degree of certainty.

If the context mentions a confirmed schedule or a promise, "should" is more logical. If it's just a hypothesis, "might" is a better fit.

The Method to Choose the Right Modal in 3 Seconds

When facing a Section 5 question with several modals offered, here is how to decide quickly:

Step 1: Identify the sentence type

• Affirmative, negative, or interrogative sentence? (to check the structure)
• Is there a time indicator (past, present, future)?

Step 2: Identify the intention

• Obligation, advice, permission, ability, possibility, or deduction?
• Formal context (client email, policy) or informal (internal conversation)?

Step 3: Eliminate the traps

• Verify there is no "to" after the modal
• Verify there is no -s in the third person
• If it concerns the past, look for "modal + have + past participle"

Application example:

"All employees _____ complete the safety training by next Monday."

• A) must to complete
• B) must complete
• C) must completes
• D) must completing

Answer: B. "Must" expresses obligation; no "to" follows, no -s, simple base verb.

On Flow Exam, you can practice this exact reflex training directly using the Modals topic in Section 5. The questions target precisely these structural and nuance traps, in the same format as the official TOEIC®.

Specific Cases in Business Emails

"Would" in Polite Requests

In the TOEIC®, formal emails often use "would" to soften a request or express a preference.

• Would you be available for a call on Thursday?
  
• I would appreciate your feedback on the proposal.
  

This phrasing reappears in Section 7. You must identify the author's intention. "Would" signals a polite request, not a command.

"Should" in Recommendations and Policies

Internal documents (regulations, guides) use "should" for non-mandatory recommendations, and "must" for strict obligations.

• Employees should report any technical issues to IT support.
  
• Employees must wear their ID badge at all times.
  

Even among candidates who already have access to preparation content through their school, confusion between "should" and "must" often recurs in Section 5.

Why? These tools emphasize the rule but rarely focus on the reflex needed under pressure.

With Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the Modals topic in the exact same format as the TOEIC®. So if you struggle with this topic, you will never make the same mistakes again.

"May" and "might" in Announcements and Updates

Official communications (announcements, newsletters) prefer "may" or "might" to announce a possible change without a firm commitment.

• The policy may be updated without prior notice.
  
• Delivery times might vary depending on location.
  

In Section 7, spotting "may" or "might" helps eliminate overly categorical statements in comprehension questions.

Ready to Practice?

You now have the keys to master modals and avoid classic TOEIC® pitfalls. But knowing the rules isn't enough—you need to apply them under pressure, with the right reflex at the right moment.

On Flow Exam, you can practice directly on the Modals topic in Section 5, with thousands of questions in the same format as the official TOEIC®. So if you struggle with this topic, you will never make the same mistakes again.

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