Vincent Van Gogh (Verb + "TO" Infinite or -ING)

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Before you start thinking about the grammar, let's talk a little about Van Gogh. 

 What do you know about this famous person?




Vincent Van Gogh

 Vincent Van Gogh spent the 37 years of his life as a more or less unknown artist. He did not start painting seriously until his late twenties, and at one time considered becoming a priest because of his beliefs. His beliefs also involved him living in extreme poverty among the outcasts of society. His brother Theo, who was an art dealer, advised him to tale up painting, and continued to support him financial throughout his life. 
Vincent's precarious mental state seems to have been made worse by alcohol and ill health. A stay in Paris from 1886 to 1888 allowed Vincent to study Impressionists such as Manet and Degas, and involved getting to know many artist, including Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh and Gauguin painted together at Arles in the south of France, where Vincent's mental state worsened and he tried to murder Gauguin, before famously cutting off part of his ear. Two years later, Vincent committed suicide. Since his death, his paintings have gone on to become among the most famous of the 19th century.


1. In the previous text you can find some verbs with To-infinitive and others with -ING. Underline them.


2. Now, you have to look for the verbs that appear before those underlined in the previous exercises. Can you make a list telling which are following by To-infinitive and which are following by -ING form?












(These are some examples because there aren't rules to distinguish when you use one or another. In next post, we are going to learn more examples.)

3. When did he actually start painting?




4. Which consequences had his beliefs?




5. What did his mental state seem worse?




6. Who did he know in Paris?




7. What happened before his suicide?

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