The document discusses various hypothetical constructions in English including wishing for past, present, or future situations using "wish", expressing preferences using "I'd rather" or "I'd prefer", describing unlikely present or past scenarios using "if only", indicating that it is time to do something using "it's time" or "it's high time", and describing seemingly true but untrue present or past situations using "as if" or "as though". These constructions are used with different verb tenses to indicate whether the hypothetical situation is present, past or future.

1. Hyphothetical constructions
a Wish
a if only
a would rather / I would prefer
a it’s time / it’s high time
a as if / as though

2. Wish
a Wish + past tense ( the situation is in the present)
– I wish I had a motorbike = imi doresc sa am o
motocicleta
a wish + past perfect (the situation is in the past)
– I wish I hadn’t seen him = imi doresc sa nu il fi
vazut
a wish + would + verb (the situation is in the future)
– I wish it would stop raining
» would is used when the speaker wants
somebody or something else to change or it
is used to describe an annoying habit

3. I’d rather / I’d prefer
a I’d rather + past tense (the situation is in the
present)
– I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here
a I’d rather + past perfect (the situation is in
the past)
– I’d rather you had come

4. If only
a If only + past tense (present situation)
– if only she could stay ( but she can’t)
a if only + past perfect (past situation)
– if only she had been here (but she hadn’t)
a if only + would (future situation)
– if only she would come (I know she won’t)

5. It’s time / it’s high time
a They are followed by past simple or
continuous (the situation is in the
present)
– it’s time we left
– it’s high time I was going

6. As if / As though
a As if + past tense (present situation - unreal)
– he acts as if he were the boss ( he isn’t)
a as if + past perfect (past situation - unreal)
– I feel as if a train had hit me (it hadn’t)
a as if + present tense ( present situation - real)
– you look as if you are having second thoughts (true - you are)