How to use “keen”, “keen on” and “keen to”

Keen on, keen, and keen to are all used to express a strong desire or interest in something. However, they are slightly different in terms of their usage and nuance.

Be keen on something

Be keen on is used to express a strong interest in someone or something, or to say we like something (such as an activity or type of food):

• I’m really keen on learning Spanish. = I’m very interested in learning Spanish and I also enjoy it.

Likewise, if you’re not keen on something, you’re saying it’s something you don’t like or enjoy:

• I’m not keen on football. I prefer rugby.
• I’m not keen on milk in coffee.

Be keen on doing

Note that if we follow keen on with a verb, we need to use the –ing form of the verb:

• I like playing football but I’m not keen on watching it on TV.

A keen swimmer

We can also say someone is a keen [+ noun] to say that they have a strong interest in and get enjoyment from a particular activity or thing:

• Harry’s a keen swimmer. = He really enjoys going swimming and does it regularly.
• I’m a keen reader – I read at least two books a month.

Be keen to

When we’re keen to do something, we’re eager and willing. A person who is keen to help doesn’t need to be persuaded – they’ll help you without you pushing them.

• When we asked our neighbours for a few gardening tips they were very keen to show us all their flowers and tell us the names of each one.

Someone with energy and ambition might be keen to take on new challenges. A young person with free time and a sense of adventure will be keen to travel. You might be keen to build a business if you are the entrepreneurial type.

Be keen

We can use keen on its own to say someone showed (or didn’t show) enthusiasm:

• We invited him to come with us on holiday, but he wasn’t very keen.

Summary and examples

keen on + noun / a person keen on + verb +-ing a keen + noun keen to + verb infinitive be keen

• She’s keen on sports and spends most of her free time playing soccer.
• I drink wine, but I’m not too keen on beer.
• Emma is nice, but I’m not keen on her husband.
• He is keen on playing the guitar and has been taking lessons for several months.
• My dad’s a keen walker. He spends a lot of time out in the hills and forests.
• I was a keen stamp collector when I was a kid. I used to ask my relatives to save stamps from envelopes for me.
• I’m keen to take on new challenges and learn new skills.
• She is keen to travel and explore different cultures.
• He was keen to help when we asked him.
• They invited him to the party but he wasn’t very keen. He said he was busy.