It may/might/could rain

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

If I am not talking about the past can I say 'She said it may/might/could rain'? If I am saying that while looking at the sky and suddenly remembered what my sister said.
If I was talking about the past, I should use 'could/may/might have rained'. Right?

 

[GoesStation]

If you suddenly remember what your sister said, you're talking about the past.

 

[Rachel Adams]

If you suddenly remember what your sister said, you're talking about the past.

But I am saying that it is still possible that it will rain.

 

[GoesStation]

In the given context, you'd probably backshift and say [My sister said] it might rain.

 

[Rachel Adams]

In the given context, you'd probably backshift and say [My sister said] it might rain.

Do 'May' and 'could' also work?

 

[GoesStation]

Do 'May' and 'could' also work?

May doesn't work for me because it's not a past form. Most native speakers use may and might interchangeably nowadays, though.

I wouldn't use could there.

 

[Rachel Adams]

May doesn't work for me because it's not a past form. Most native speakers use may and might interchangeably nowadays, though.

I wouldn't use could there.

Because 'could' is not used for predictions. Right?

 

[GoesStation]

Because 'could' is not used for predictions. Right?

That may be the explanation. It's very hard to articulate these usages.