La forme simple past s'utilise pour parler de l'irréel, du non accompli (hypothèses, souhaits, préférences).
On le trouve en particulier après if, if only, to wish, 'd rather, 'd better, it's (high) time, as if.
Be au preterit modal n'a que la forme 'were' à toutes les personnes
| hypothèse non réalisable, présente ou future | if+preterit If I were English... Imagine I were English Supposing I were English |
| souhait non réalisable, présent ou futur | I wish you were here I wish tomorrow were my birthday |
| mécontentement actuel | I wish you would stop shouting I wish you stopped smoking |
| préférence | I'd rather you didn't do that |
| comparaison irréelle | as if he knew all about it |
| critique | it's high time we left |