✍🏽ap english language review

"should"

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The word "should" is a modal verb used to express obligation, recommendation, or necessity. In persuasive writing or speech, it adds a sense of strong conviction and implies that the action being advocated for is the morally right thing to do.