Put the verbs in the correct tense?

1. The man hopped into the car before I could catch him.
因為有了before這個字，兩個動作是先後已經很明顯，所以先前的動作hop只要用「過去簡單式」即可。

2.Mr. Lam said that he would help me if I asked him.
當名詞子句裡所述為真實的狀況時（應是直述語氣，子句的動詞用過去式，以與主要子句的動詞say在時態取得一致。）不能用「假設語氣」。
ask是有可能發生的狀況，而help是在ask之後發生（would help是過去的未來狀況）。在Mr. Lam的心中，兩者都可能發生：我可能向Mr. Lam要求幫忙。

Mr. Lam said that he would have help me if I had asked him.
這樣所述才是不實的狀況：我沒有要求Mr. Lam幫我的忙。（用假設語氣：過去完成式）

3. There wasn't much oil in the lamp, and it soon went out.
對等句表示兩者的資訊同樣重要。雖然是「前因後果」，但均可用「過去簡單式」（屬於以前的狀況：當時確實是如此；兩者是否有時差沒有關係，不能強調時差）。

1. The man (hop) into the car before I could catch him.
Had hopped -- could catch 能抓住他 – 意為過去沒能抓住他--是過去式，故hop(動作在could catch之前)宜用過去完成式，意為過去已經
2. Mr. Lam (say) that he would help me if I (ask) him.
said– 用過去式, 配合之後句與過去事實相反的假設語氣
asked – if I asked 為假設語氣,意為我過去沒有問他( if + 過去式動詞… would + 原型動詞)
3. There wasn't much oil in the lamp and it soon (go) out.
Went – 配合前詞過去式-- 燈裡過去沒有很多油，燈很快熄滅(也是過去)，應用是過去式