Verbos modales para TOEIC®: modales perfectos, emails de negocios y trampas
Domina los 9 modales para el TOEIC® Parte 5: escala de probabilidad, modales perfectos, patrones de emails, semi-modales y las 5 trampas más comunes.
Modal Verbs: Key to TOEIC® Part 5
Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must) are auxiliary verbs that modify the meaning of the main verb. They express ability, permission, obligation, advice, or probability. On the TOEIC®, they account for roughly 15-20% of Part 5 questions and appear regularly in Part 6 emails.
Their grammar rules are strict: no -s in the third person, base infinitive without to, no infinitive or participle forms. Mastering these rules is a quick point gain in your TOEIC préparation.
Quick Reference Table
All 9 pure modals organized by primary function:
| Modal | Primary function | TOEIC® Example |
|---|---|---|
| can | ability / informal permission | She can process 50 orders per hour. |
| could | past ability / politeness | Could you forward the attachment? |
| may | formal permission / possibility | Employees may request a transfer. |
| might | weaker possibility | The shipment might be delayed. |
| will | future / willingness | The board will announce the results. |
| would | conditional / politeness | Would you like to reschedule? |
| shall | contractual obligation | The tenant shall maintain the property. |
| should | advice / recommendation | You should review the contract first. |
| must | obligation / certainty | All visitors must sign in at reception. |
Probability and Deduction
The certainty scale from most to least certain:
| Modal | Degree | Example |
|---|---|---|
| must | ~95% (near certainty) | She must be in the office by now. |
| will | ~90% (prédiction) | The package will arrive tomorrow. |
| should | ~75% (reasonable expectation) | The report should be ready by noon. |
| may | ~50% (likely possibility) | The shipment may arrive tomorrow. |
| might / could | ~30% (weaker possibility) | The delay could cause problems. |
| can't | ~0% (logical impossibility) | That can't be the right answer. |
Perfect Modals (modal + have + past participle)
Perfect modals are essential for talking about past actions. They appear regularly in TOEIC® Parts 5 and 6, and are often combined with the passive voice:
| Perfect modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| should have + PP | should have done (regret) | You should have submitted the form earlier. |
| could have + PP | could have done (unrealized) | We could have finished the project on time. |
| must have + PP | must have done (past déduction) | She must have left the office already. |
| may/might have + PP | may have done (past possibility) | The package may have been delivered. |
| would have + PP | would have done (past conditional) | I would have called, but I lost your number. |
Modals in Business Emails
TOEIC® Parts 6 and 7 contain many business emails. Here are the most common modal expressions:
| Intent | Expression |
|---|---|
| Polite request | Could you please send me the updated report? |
| Offer | Would you like to schedule a follow-up meeting? |
| Obligation | All participants must confirm their attendance by Friday. |
| Recommendation | You should review the attached document before the meeting. |
| Possibility | The delivery may be delayed due to weather conditions. |
| Commitment | We will process your order within 24 hours. |
Semi-Modals
| Semi-modal | Modal equivalent | Example |
|---|---|---|
| have to | must (obligation) | She had to reschedule the meeting. |
| be able to | can (ability) | He will be able to attend. |
| be going to | will (future) | We are going to launch next month. |
| need to | must (necessity) | You need to sign the form. |
| used to | (past habit) | I used to work in marketing. |
Top 5 TOEIC® Traps
- Must vs have to: must for personal obligation, have to for external obligation. In the past, only had to is correct
- Can vs may: can for ability or informal permission, may for formal permission or possibility
- Should vs must: should is advice, must is obligation
- Would vs will: would for conditional and politeness, will for certain future
- No double modals: you never say *will can. Use will be able to instead
To practice these traps, try our free TOEIC exercises or take a free TOEIC mock test to assess your level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Master Modal Verbs with 990prep
Modal verbs account for 15-20% of Part 5 questions. Practice with 990prep to master them in realistic business emails and professional situations.
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