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Gerunds

Gerunds (sometimes called verbal nouns) are used to convert the verb form to a noun with an -ing ending. In this way the verb can become the subject of the sentence.

Playing basketball is important to Tim.  Knitting is Judy's hobby.

The verbs play and knit have become nouns and also the subjects.

Modal Verbs

Below are common English Modal verbs:

Can

Can is used to express ability and possibility.

He can speak several languages.  I can call you tomorrow.

Could

Could is used basically as a polite request and expressing
possibility in the past.

Could I use your telephone?
I couldn't play football when I was younger.

May

May is also often used as a polite request and expressing likely possibilities.

May I borrow your hammer?  He may come, or he may not.

Might

Might is used to express a likely event or possibility. It is similar to may but is not used as a polite request.

He might come, or he might not.  I might go to the cinema tomorrow.

Must

Must is used to express subjective obligation. It is not used 
in the Past Tense.

You must come to my party.  She mustn't forget her things.

Should

Should is used for opinion and advice. It is not as strong as must.

You should go to the doctor.  He shouldn't eat so much.

Will / Won't

Will and Won't are used to express future events, usually decided
at the moment of speaking.

Tina will help us if we ask her.  I'll try to come on time.
He won't come.

Would

Would is used to express a hypothetical situation and 
offers or invitations.

I would play if I could.  Would you like to come to my party?

Passive

In active English speech, we are concerned with 
who does something.

Judy will do the report.  He built his house last year.

But in passive speech, we are concerned with what is done.

The report will be done by Judy.  The house was built last year.

Look at the passive tenses below:

Past Passive

The bridge was built by the French.  He was injured in the war.

Present Passive

Dinner is served at 6:00.  
Traveler's checks are cashed in all the hotels.

Future Passive

500 workers will be laid off next spring. 
The project will be completed next week.