Is it correct that “He thought that if the rain stopped, he would be able to leave” implies a future situation relative to the past, and “He thought that if the rain had stopped, he would have been able to leave” implies a non-realized situation relative to the past?

Question

Answer

Hmm, I found this tricky. I chatted with AI. 
Please can someone let me know if this interpretation is incorrect. 
✔️ Direct reported thought
He thought, “If the rain stops, I will be able to leave”.
→ This shows the exact words in his mind, so the tenses stay in the present and future.
✔️ Indirect (normal) reported thought
He thought that if the rain stopped, he would be able to leave.
→ This reports the meaning of the thought, so the tenses shift back.

Answer

No. This is reported thought. At the time of thinking, it is currently raining. At that time, his exact thought is - if the rain stops, I will be able to leave.

So obviously this situation happened in the past and his past thought is now being reported. But the thought and the rain are happening at the same time and he is imagining the rain stopping in the future.

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