Remoteness grammatical devices

Device	Example	Remoteness conveyed
Preterite	If he knew the answer, he would tell us.	modal/irrealis remoteness
Irrealis were	If I were you, I’d leave.	modal remoteness
Might	He might be right.	epistemic possibility
Could	He could be right.	possibility
Would	He would help if he could.	modal/conditional remoteness
Should	If he should arrive, let me know.	tentative/remote condition
Past-tense backshift	She said she was tired.	modal/temporal backshift depending on context
Modal preterite	I could help tomorrow.	modal remoteness rather than past time
Were to	If he were to resign, the project would collapse.	especially remote hypothetical
Past perfect	If he had known, he would have acted.	modal remoteness located prior to a reference point
Wish / if only + preterite	I wish I knew.	counter-to-fact / unreal situation
Would rather + preterite	I’d rather you stayed.	modal remoteness of the desired situation
Suppose / imagine + preterite	Suppose he were right.	hypothetical framing