---
title: curious — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «curious» in the school dictionary: Wanting to know or learn about something; eager to find out. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# curious

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Kittens, I, volcanoes, She, curious smell, Curious scientists · **What happens:** want, know, learn, find out, be, explore · **To what, where:** box, parcel, kitchen, needle, ground, shell · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«curious» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [curious in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/curious.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wanting to know or learn about something; eager to find out.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:m1:1
# text = Wanting to know or learn about something; eager to find out.
1	Wanting	want	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	learn	learn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	conj	_	_
6	about	about	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
9	eager	eager	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	out	out	ADP	RP	_	11	compound:prt	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **know** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **learn** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | about something | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about something=Topic |
| 4 | **find out** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn learn-14-2-1 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Strange, unusual or interesting in a surprising way (a curious noise).

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:m2:1
# text = Strange, unusual or interesting in a surprising way (a curious noise).
1	Strange	strange	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	unusual	unusual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	interesting	interesting	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	surprising	surprising	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kittens are very curious and explore every box.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x1:1
# text = Kittens are very curious and explore every box.
1	Kittens	kitten	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	explore	explore	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	det	_	_
8	box	box	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Kittens |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **explore** | present | Kittens *not said here* | every box |  |  |  |  | vn investigate-35.4 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent box=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm curious about how volcanoes work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x2:1
# text = I'm curious about how volcanoes work.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	about	about	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	volcanoes	volcano	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	work	work	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **work** | present | volcanoes |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was curious to know what was inside the parcel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x3:1
# text = She was curious to know what was inside the parcel.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	know	know	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
6	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	10	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	inside	inside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	parcel	parcel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **know** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **is** | past |  |  |  | the parcel |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A curious smell came from the kitchen.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x4:1
# text = A curious smell came from the kitchen.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	smell	smell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a curious smell |  |  | the kitchen |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from kitchen=Initial\_Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Curious scientists ask «Why?» and «What if?»

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x5:1
# text = Curious scientists ask «Why?» and «What if?»
1	Curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ask	ask	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	Why	why	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	5	conj	_	_
11	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | present | Curious scientists |  |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It's good to be curious, but don't touch a needle you find on the ground.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x6:1
# text = It's good to be curious, but don't touch a needle you find on the ground.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	cop	_	_
6	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
9	do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	touch	touch	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	parataxis	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	needle	needle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	find	find	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	acl:relcl	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | It |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **touch** | infinitive · do-support |  | a needle |  |  |  |  | vn contiguous\_location-47.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Theme needle=Co-Theme |
| 4 | **find** | present | you | a needle *not said here* |  | the ground |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent needle=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
What a curious little shell — it's shaped like a spiral!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x7:1
# text = What a curious little shell — it's shaped like a spiral!
1	What	what	DET	WDT	PronType=Int	5	det	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
3	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
4	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	shaped	shape	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl:relcl	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shape** | present · passive | what curious little shell *not said here* | shell |  |  |  | like a spiral | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: subject=Product |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I am curious to hear the end."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curious:x8:1
# text = I am curious to hear the end."
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	am	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	curious	curious	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hear	hear	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | I |  |  |  |  | curious *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hear** | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | the end |  |  |  |  | vn see-30.1-1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Experiencer end=Stimulus |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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