Would, could, and might can be used to express possibility or uncertainty in the present or future (they are the "softer" and more "indirect", or more "polite" forms of will, can, and may in this usage, I believe), but I don't know whether the subordinate clauses should follow the rules of the sequence of tenses or not.
Let me explain what I mean:
(1) "I am not sure I want to go to the party. But if Betty invites/invited me, I would go." =>I want to use "would" to express future uncertainty.
(2) "This thing is mysterious. I would imagine Tom is/was able to explain." =>I want to use "would" to express present uncertainty in my thinking
(3) "I have an idea. We could tell him that we will/would not let the secret out so that he will/would trust us" =>I want to use "could" to express future uncertainty or possibility.
Does the sequence of tenses apply in scenarios where we use would, could, might in a present or future sense?
In cases of expressing possibility or being more indirect, do we just treat would, could, and might the same way as will, can, and may in terms of the sequence of tenses?