should

should (modal verb/ojúṣe (múùdù): (i)  used after ‘I’ when giving advice. A máań lò ó lẹ́yìn ‘I’ tí a bá ń gba ènìyàn níyànjú. I shouldn’t trust him if I were you. N kì bá tún gbẹ́kẹ̀ lé e bí ó bá jẹ́ pé èmi nìwọ.

(ii) used to say or ask what is the correct thing to do. A fi máa ń bèèrè tàbí kí á fi ṣe àlàyé ohun tí ó tọ́ kí á ṣe. ‘Should I go there?’ No, you shouldn’t’. ‘Ṣé kí n lọ síbẹ̀?’ ‘Rárá, má lọ’.

(iii) used when referring to a possible event in future. A ń lò ó nígbà tí a bá ń sọ̀rọ̀ nípa ohun tí ó ṣeé ṣe kí ó ṣẹ̀lẹ̀ lọ́jọ́ iwájú. Should you need the book, pick it on the table. Tí obá nílò ìwé yẹn, mú un lóri tábìlì.

(iv) used after ‘that’ and adjectives or nouns that show an opinion. A máań lò ó lẹ̀yìn ‘that’ tí a bá fẹ́ fi èrò ọkàn wa hàn.  It is not right that criminals should rule this town. Kò dára pé kí àwọn ọ̀daràn máa darí ìlú yìí.

(v) used after ‘why’ when explaining or asking for an explanation for something. A máań lò ó lẹ́yìn ‘why’ tí a bá fẹ́ bèèrè fún ìdí tí nǹkan fi wáyé tàbí tí a bá fẹ́ ṣe àlàyé ìdi tí nǹkan fi wáyé. Why should you sleep in his house? Kí ni ó dé tí o sùn ní ilé rẹ̀?

(vi) used to express surprise in sentences that are in the form of questions. A máań lò o nínú gbólóhùn  ó bá jẹ́ ìbéèrè láti fi ìyanu hàn. I was just opening the door when who should I see but a friend with my lost dog. Bí mo ti ń ṣí ilẹ̀kùn; ta ni mo rí? ọ̀rẹ́ mi tòuntajá mi tó sọnù.