---
title: keen — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «keen» in the school dictionary: Keen means very eager or interested: «She is keen on football.». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# keen

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Keen, you, He, Eagles, keen wind, I · **What happens:** mean, be, do, want, come, have · **To what, where:** football, something, it, park, keen eyesight, beach · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«keen» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [keen in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/keen.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keen means very eager or interested: «She is keen on football.».

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:m1:1
# text = Keen means very eager or interested: «She is keen on football.».
1	Keen	keen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	very	very	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	eager	eager	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	interested	interested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
12	on	on	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	football	football	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Keen |  |  |  |  | eager *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **is** *in a quote* | present | Keen |  |  | football |  | keen *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .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 -->
Keen means sharp or strong: «keen eyesight», «a keen wind».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:m2:1
# text = Keen means sharp or strong: «keen eyesight», «a keen wind».
1	Keen	keen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	eyesight	eyesight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Keen |  |  |  |  | sharp *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK/Australia informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Keen to do something means wanting to do it: «Are you keen?» = do you want to come?

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Keen to do something means wanting to do it: «Are you keen?»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:m3:1
# text = Keen to do something means wanting to do it: «Are you keen?»
1	Keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	wanting	want	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	ccomp	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | to-infinitive | Keen *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Keen |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **want** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 4 | **do** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Eventuality |
| 5 | **is** *in a quote* | present | you |  |  |  |  | keen *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* = do you want to come?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:m3:2
# text = = do you want to come?
1	=	=	PUNCT	NFP	_	4	punct	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | present · do-support | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **come** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He's keen on dinosaurs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x1:1
# text = He's keen on dinosaurs.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|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	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	dinosaurs	dinosaur	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | He |  |  |  |  | on dinosaurs; keen *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you keen to come to the park?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x2:1
# text = Are you keen to come to the park?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	come	come	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | keen *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  | the park |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to park=Initial\_Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Eagles have keen eyesight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x3:1
# text = Eagles have keen eyesight.
1	Eagles	eagle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	eyesight	eyesight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | Eagles | keen eyesight |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent eyesight=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A keen wind blew across the beach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x4:1
# text = A keen wind blew across the beach.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	blew	blow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	across	across	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	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 | **blow** | past | a keen wind |  |  | the beach |  |  | vn split-23.2 «NP V apart»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'm not keen on spinach.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x5:1
# text = I'm not keen on spinach.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'm	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	spinach	spinach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | I |  |  | spinach |  | keen *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a keen reader — two books a week!

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x6:1
# text = She is a keen reader — two books a week!
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	—	-	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
8	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | She | a keen reader |  |  |  | two books  a week *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His keen eyes scanned the wide plain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:keen:x7:1
# text = His keen eyes scanned the wide plain.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	keen	keen	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	scanned	scan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	plain	plain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **scan** | past | His keen eyes | the wide plain |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent plain=Theme |

<!-- 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 -->

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