See below for lexicon of words used in descriptions
And for table of verbs
Saying
Values , Names with articles
, Say if and otherwise
, Say one of
, Paragraph control
, Special characters
, Fonts and visual effects
, Some built-in texts
, Saying lists of things
, Group in and omit from lists
, Lists of values
Values and data structures
Counting , Arithmetic
, Truth states
, Randomness
, Changing stored values
, Increase and decrease
, Property provision
, Tables
, Sorting tables
, Indexed text
, Matching text
, Replacing text
, Casing of text
, Lists
, Length of lists
, Reversing and rotating lists
, Sorting lists
, Use options
, Relations
Loops and conditionals
If and unless , While
, Repeat
, Repeat through tables
, Repeat through lists
, Changing the flow of loops
, Deciding outcomes
, Stop or go
Actions, activities and rules
Trying actions , Action requirements
, Stop or continue
, Stored actions
, Carrying out activities
, Advanced activities
, Following rules
, Success and failure
, Procedural manipulation
Model world
Score , Outcome of play
, Times of day
, Durations
, Timed events
, Scenes
, Timing of scenes
, Player's identity and location
, Moving and removing things
, The map
, Route-finding
, The object tree
Understanding
Asking yes/no questions , The player's command
, Changing the player's command
, Scope and pronouns
, I6 parser errors
Using external resources
Files , Figures and sound effects
Not all of the phrases listed below have blue help icons, as many occur in clumps of similar phrases which share the same documentation. Try the nearest icon above.
Saying
Values
say (some text with substitutions)
say "[a value of some sort]"
say "[a number in words]"
say "[a time in words]"
say "[s]"
Names with articles
say "[a the name of an object]"
say "[an the name of an object]"
say "[A the name of an object]"
say "[An the name of an object]"
say "[the the name of an object]"
say "[The the name of an object]"
Say if and otherwise
say "[if a condition]"
say "[unless a condition]"
say "[end if]"
say "[end unless]"
say "[otherwise/else if a condition]"
say "[otherwise/else unless a condition]"
say "[otherwise]"
say "[else]"
Say one of
say "[one of]"
say "[or]"
say "[purely at random]"
say "[at random]"
say "[sticky random]"
say "[as decreasingly likely outcomes]"
say "[in random order]"
say "[cycling]"
say "[stopping]"
Paragraph control
say "[line break]"
say "[no line break]"
say "[conditional paragraph break]"
say "[command clarification break]"
say "[paragraph break]"
say "[run paragraph on]"
say "[run paragraph on with special look spacing]"
if a paragraph break is pending ...
Special characters
say "[bracket]"
say "[close bracket]"
say "[apostrophe/']"
say "[quotation mark]"
Fonts and visual effects
say "[bold type]"
say "[italic type]"
say "[roman type]"
say "[fixed letter spacing]"
say "[variable letter spacing]"
display the boxed quotation (some formatted text without substitutions)
Some built-in texts
say "[the/-- banner text]"
say "[the/-- list of extension credits]"
say "[the/-- complete list of extension credits]"
say "[the/-- player's surroundings]"
Saying lists of things
list the contents of (the name of an object)
optionally with newlines,
indented,
giving inventory information,
as a sentence,
including contents,
including all contents,
tersely,
giving brief inventory information,
using the definite article,
listing marked items only,
prefacing with is/are,
not listing concealed items,
suppressing all articles,
and/or with extra indentation
say "[contents of the name of an object]"
say "[the contents of the name of an object]"
say "[a list of a description]"
say "[A list of a description]"
say "[list of a description]"
say "[the list of a description]"
say "[The list of a description]"
say "[is-are a list of a description]"
say "[is-are list of a description]"
say "[is-are the list of a description]"
say "[a list of a description including contents]"
Group in and omit from lists
group (a description) together
group (a description) together giving articles
group (a description) together as (some text)
omit contents in listing
Lists of values
say "[a list of values in brace notation]"
say "[a list of objects with definite articles]"
say "[a list of objects with indefinite articles]"
Values and data structures
Counting
number of (a description) ... a number
Arithmetic
(a number) + (a number) ... a number
(a number) - (a number) ... a number
(a number) * (a number) ... a number
(a number) / (a number) ... a number
(a number) plus (a number) ... a number
(a number) minus (a number) ... a number
(a number) times (a number) ... a number
(a number) multiplied by (a number) ... a number
(a number) divided by (a number) ... a number
remainder after dividing (a number) by (a number) ... a number
total (a property of something) of (a description) ... a number
Truth states
whether or not (a condition) ... something which is either true or false
Randomness
a/-- random (a description) ... the name of an object
a random number from (a number) to (a number) ... a number
a random number between (a number) and (a number) ... a number
if a random chance of (a number) in (a number) succeeds ...
seed the random-number generator with (a number)
Changing stored values
now (a condition)
let (a temporary 'let' or 'repeat' variable) be (a value of some sort)
change (a property belonging to something) to (a value of some sort)
change (a non-temporary variable) to (a value of some sort)
change (a table entry) to (a value of some sort)
change (a list entry) to (a value of some sort)
change (the name of an object) to (a property of something)
change (the name of an object) to (a value)
change (a temporary 'let' or 'repeat' variable) to (a value of some sort)
Increase and decrease
increase/increment (a property belonging to something) by (a value)
increase/increment (a non-temporary variable) by (a value)
increase/increment (a temporary 'let' or 'repeat' variable) by (a value)
increase/increment (a table entry) by (a value)
decrease/decrement (a property belonging to something) by (a value)
decrease/decrement (a non-temporary variable) by (a value)
decrease/decrement (a temporary 'let' or 'repeat' variable) by (a value)
decrease/decrement (a table entry) by (a value)
Property provision
if (the name of an object) provides the property (a property of something) ...
if (the name of an object) does not provide the property (a property of something) ...
Tables
number of rows in/from (the name of a table) ... a number
number of blank rows in/from (the name of a table) ... a number
number of filled rows in/from (the name of a table) ... a number
if there is (a table entry) ...
if there is no (a table entry) ...
delete (a table entry)
blank out the whole row
choose a/the/-- row (a number) in/from (the name of a table)
choose a/the/-- row with (the name of a column) of (a value) in/from (the name of a table)
choose a/the/-- blank row in/from (the name of a table)
choose a/the/-- random row in/from (the name of a table)
Sorting tables
sort (the name of a table) in random order
sort (the name of a table) in (the name of a column) order
sort (the name of a table) in reverse (the name of a column) order
Indexed text
number of characters in (an indexed text) ... a number
character number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace character number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
number of words in (an indexed text) ... a number
word number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace word number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
number of punctuated words in (an indexed text) ... a number
punctuated word number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace punctuated word number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
number of unpunctuated words in (an indexed text) ... a number
unpunctuated word number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace unpunctuated word number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
number of lines in (an indexed text) ... a number
line number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace line number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
number of paragraphs in (an indexed text) ... a number
paragraph number (a number) in (an indexed text) ... an indexed text
replace paragraph number (a number) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
Matching text
if (an indexed text) exactly matches the text (an indexed text) ...
optionally case insensitively
if (an indexed text) matches the text (an indexed text) ...
optionally case insensitively
number of times (an indexed text) matches the text (an indexed text) ... a number
optionally case insensitively
if (an indexed text) exactly matches the regular expression (an indexed text) ...
optionally case insensitively
if (an indexed text) matches the regular expression (an indexed text) ...
optionally case insensitively
number of times (an indexed text) matches the regular expression (an indexed text) ... a number
optionally case insensitively
text matching regular expression ... an indexed text
text matching subexpression (a number) ... an indexed text
Replacing text
replace the text (an indexed text) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
optionally case insensitively
replace the regular expression (an indexed text) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
optionally case insensitively
replace the word (an indexed text) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
replace the punctuated word (an indexed text) in (an indexed text) with (an indexed text)
Casing of text
(an indexed text) in lower case ... an indexed text
(an indexed text) in upper case ... an indexed text
(an indexed text) in title case ... an indexed text
(an indexed text) in sentence case ... an indexed text
if (an indexed text) is in lower case ...
if (an indexed text) is in upper case ...
Lists
add (a value) to (a list of values)
optionally if absent
add (a value) at entry (a number) in (a list of values)
add (a list of values) to (a list of values)
optionally if absent
add (a list of values) at entry (a number) in (a list of values)
remove (a value) from (a list of values)
optionally if present
remove (a list of values) from (a list of values)
optionally if present
remove entry (a number) from (a list of values)
optionally if present
remove entries (a number) to (a number) from (a list of values)
optionally if present
if (a value) is listed in (a list of values) ...
if (a value) is not listed in (a list of values) ...
list of (a description) ... a list of
multiple object list ... a list of
alter the multiple object list to (a list of objects)
Length of lists
number of entries in/of (a list of values) ... a number
truncate (a list of values) to (a number) entries
truncate (a list of values) to the first (a number) entries
truncate (a list of values) to the last (a number) entries
extend (a list of values) to (a number) entries
change (a list of values) to have (a number) entries
Reversing and rotating lists
reverse (a list of values)
rotate (a list of values)
rotate (a list of values) backwards
Sorting lists
sort (a list of values)
sort (a list of values) in reverse order
sort (a list of values) in random order
sort (a list of objects) in (a property of something) order
sort (a list of objects) in reverse (a property of something) order
Use options
if using the/-- (the name of a use option) ...
Relations
next step via (a relation) from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) ... the name of an object
number of steps via (a relation) from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) ... a number
Loops and conditionals
If and unless
if (a condition) then (an instruction to do something)
if (a condition) , (an instruction to do something)
unless (a condition) , (an instruction to do something)
otherwise if (a condition)
else if (a condition)
otherwise unless (a condition)
else unless (a condition)
otherwise (an instruction to do something)
else (an instruction to do something)
if (a condition) begin; ...; end if
unless (a condition) begin; ...; end unless
if (a simple value of some sort) is begin; ...; end if
While
while (a condition) repeatedly (an instruction to do something)
while (a condition) , (an instruction to do something)
while (a condition) begin; ...; end while
Repeat
repeat with (a name not so far used) running from (a number) to (a number) begin; ...; end repeat
repeat with (a name not so far used) running through (a description) begin; ...; end repeat
Repeat through tables
repeat through (the name of a table) begin; ...; end repeat
repeat through (the name of a table) in reverse order begin; ...; end repeat
repeat through (the name of a table) in (the name of a column) order begin; ...; end repeat
repeat through (the name of a table) in reverse (the name of a column) order begin; ...; end repeat
Repeat through lists
repeat with (a name not so far used) running through (a list of values) begin; ...; end repeat
Changing the flow of loops
break
next
Deciding outcomes
yes
decide yes
no
decide no
decide on (a value)
Actions, activities and rules
Trying actions
try (an instruction to do something)
silently try (an instruction to do something)
try silently (an instruction to do something)
Action requirements
if action requires a touchable noun ...
if action requires a touchable second noun ...
if action requires a carried noun ...
if action requires a carried second noun ...
if action requires light ...
Stop or continue
stop the action
continue the action
Stored actions
current action ... a stored action
action of (an instruction to do something) ... a stored action
try (a stored action)
silently try (a stored action)
try silently (a stored action)
if (a stored action) involves (the name of an object) ...
action-name part of (a stored action) ... an action name
noun part of (a stored action) ... the name of an object
second noun part of (a stored action) ... the name of an object
actor part of (a stored action) ... the name of an object
Carrying out activities
carry out the (an activity) activity
carry out the (an activity) activity with (the name of an object)
if (an activity) activity is going on ...
if (an activity) activity is not going on ...
if (an activity) activity is empty ...
if (an activity) activity is not empty ...
continue the activity
Advanced activities
begin the (an activity) activity
begin the (an activity) activity with (the name of an object)
if handling (an activity) activity ...
if handling (an activity) activity with (the name of an object) ...
end the (an activity) activity
end the (an activity) activity with (the name of an object)
abandon the (an activity) activity
abandon the (an activity) activity with (the name of an object)
Following rules
follow (the name of a rule)
follow (the name of a rule) for (the name of an object)
consider (the name of a rule)
consider (the name of a rule) for (the name of an object)
abide by (the name of a rule)
abide by (the name of a rule) for (the name of an object)
anonymously abide by (the name of a rule)
anonymously abide by (the name of a rule) for (the name of an object)
Success and failure
make no decision
rule succeeds
rule fails
rule succeeds with result (some text or the name of a room, thing or rule)
rule fails with result (some text or the name of a room, thing or rule)
if rule succeeded ...
if rule succeeded with result (some text or the name of a room, thing or rule) ...
if rule failed ...
if rule failed with result (some text or the name of a room, thing or rule) ...
result of the rule ... some text or the name of a room, thing or rule
outcome of the rulebook ... the name of a rulebook outcome
Procedural manipulation
ignore (the name of a rule)
reinstate (the name of a rule)
reject the result of (the name of a rule)
accept the result of (the name of a rule)
substitute (the name of a rule) for (the name of a rule)
restore the original (the name of a rule)
move (the name of a rule) to before (the name of a rule)
move (the name of a rule) to after (the name of a rule)
Model world
Score
award (a number) point/points
Outcome of play
end the game in death
end the game in victory
end the game saying (some text)
resume the game
if game is in progress ...
if game is over ...
if game ended in death ...
if game ended in victory ...
Times of day
(a time) to the nearest (a time) ... a time
minutes part of (a time) ... a number
hours part of (a time) ... a number
if (a time) is before (a time) ...
if (a time) is after (a time) ...
if it is before (a time) ...
if it is after (a time) ...
(a time) before (a time) ... a time
(a time) after (a time) ... a time
Durations
(a number) minutes ... a time
(a number) hours ... a time
Timed events
(the name of a rule) in (a number) turn from now
(the name of a rule) in (a number) turns from now
(the name of a rule) at (a time)
(the name of a rule) in (a time) from now
Scenes
if (the name of a scene) is happening ...
if (the name of a scene) is not happening ...
if (the name of a scene) has happened ...
if (the name of a scene) has not happened ...
if (the name of a scene) has ended ...
if (the name of a scene) has not ended ...
Timing of scenes
time since (the name of a scene) began ... a time
time when (the name of a scene) began ... a time
time since (the name of a scene) ended ... a time
time when (the name of a scene) ended ... a time
Player's identity and location
change the/-- player to (the name of an object)
if in (the name of an object) ...
if in darkness ...
Moving and removing things
move (the name of an object) to (the name of an object)
optionally without printing a room description,
or printing an abbreviated room description
remove (the name of an object) from play
move (the name of an object) backdrop to all (a description)
update backdrop positions
The map
location of (the name of an object) ... room
room (an object matching a description) from (an object matching a description) ... room
other side of (an object matching a description) from (an object matching a description) ... the name of an object
direction of (an object matching a description) from (an object matching a description) ... the name of an object
room-or-door (an object matching a description) from (an object matching a description) ... the name of an object
change (an object matching a description) exit of (an object matching a description) to (an object matching a description)
change (an object matching a description) exit of (an object matching a description) to nothing/nowhere
front side of (the name of an object) ... room
back side of (the name of an object) ... room
Route-finding
best route from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) ... the name of an object
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
number of moves from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) ... a number
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
best route from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) through (a description) ... the name of an object
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
number of moves from (the name of an object) to (the name of an object) through (a description) ... a number
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
The object tree
holder of (the name of an object) ... the name of an object
next thing held after (the name of an object) ... the name of an object
first thing held by (the name of an object) ... the name of an object
Understanding
Asking yes/no questions
if player consents ...
The player's command
if (a snippet) matches (a topic) ...
if (a snippet) does not match (a topic) ...
if (a snippet) includes (a topic) ...
if (a snippet) does not include (a topic) ...
Changing the player's command
change the text of the player's command to (an indexed text)
replace (a snippet) with (some text)
cut (a snippet)
reject the player's command
Scope and pronouns
place (the name of an object) in scope
optionally but not its contents
place the/-- contents of (the name of an object) in scope
set pronouns from possessions of the player
set pronouns from (the name of an object)
I6 parser errors
if parser error is didn't understand ...
if parser error is only understood as far as ...
if parser error is didn't understand that number ...
if parser error is can't see any such thing ...
if parser error is said too little ...
if parser error is aren't holding that ...
if parser error is can't use multiple objects ...
if parser error is can only use multiple objects ...
if parser error is not sure what it refers to ...
if parser error is excepted something not included ...
if parser error is can only do that to something animate ...
if parser error is not a verb I recognise ...
if parser error is not something you need to refer to ...
if parser error is can't see it at the moment ...
if parser error is didn't understand the way that finished ...
if parser error is not enough of those available ...
if parser error is nothing to do ...
if parser error is I beg your pardon ...
if parser error is noun did not make sense in that context ...
Using external resources
Files
read (the name of a file) into (the name of a table)
write (the name of a file) from (the name of a table)
if (the name of a file) exists ...
if ready to read (the name of a file) ...
mark (the name of a file) as ready to read
mark (the name of a file) as not ready to read
write (some text) to (the name of a file)
append (some text) to (the name of a file)
say "[text of the name of a file]"
Figures and sound effects
display (the name of a figure)
optionally one time only
play (the name of a sound effect)
optionally one time only
Lexicon of words used in descriptions
For instance, the description 'an unlocked door' is made up from the adjective 'unlocked' and the noun 'door', both of which can be found below. Property adjectives, like 'open', can be used when creating things - 'In the Ballroom is an open container' is allowed because 'open' is a property - but those with complicated definitions, like 'empty', can only be tested during play, e.g. with rules like 'Instead of taking an empty container, ...'.
a indefinite article
adjacent adjective: A room is adjacent if it is adjacent to the location.
all determiner used in conditions: 'if all of the doors are open'
all but determiner used to count things: 'all but three containers'
all except determiner - see all except
almost all determiner used in conditions: true if 80 percent or more possibilities work
almost no determiner used in conditions: true if fewer than 20 percent of possibilities work
an indefinite article - see a
at least determiner used to count things: 'at least five doors'
at most determiner - see at least
backdrop
noun, a kind of thing
closed adjective, property of door or container, opposite of open
concealed adjective: Something is concealed if the holder of it conceals it.
container noun, a kind of thing
dark adjective, property of room, opposite of lighted
described adjective, property of thing, opposite of undescribed
each determiner - see all
edible adjective, property of thing, opposite of inedible
enterable adjective, property of container or supporter
every determiner - see all, and can also be used in generalisations such as 'A nose is part of every person.'
exactly determiner whereas 'if two doors are open' implicitly means 'if at least two doors are open', 'if exactly two...' makes the count precise
female adjective, property of person, opposite of male
fewer than determiner pedantic way to say less than when counting
fixed in place adjective, property of thing, opposite of portable
handled adjective, property of thing
improper-named adjective, property of thing, opposite of proper-named
inedible adjective, property of thing, opposite of edible
initially carried adjective, property of thing
invisible adjective: Something is invisible if the player cannot see it.
less than determiner - see more than
lighted adjective, property of room, opposite of dark
lit adjective, property of thing, opposite of unlit
locale-supportable adjective: a thing (called the item) is locale-supportable if the item is not scenery and the item is not mentioned.
lockable adjective, property of door or container
locked adjective, property of door or container, opposite of unlocked
male adjective, property of person, opposite of female
marked for listing adjective, property of thing or direction, opposite of unmarked for listing
mentioned adjective, property of thing, opposite of unmentioned
more than determiner used to count things: 'more than three rooms'
most determiner used in conditions: true if a simple majority of possibilities work
neuter adjective, property of person
no determiner opposite of 'all': 'if no door is open...'
none determiner opposite of 'all of': 'if none of the doors is open...'
off-stage adjective: Something is off-stage if (- (~~(OnStage(t_0))) .
on-stage adjective: Something is on-stage if (- (OnStage(t_0)) .
opaque adjective, property of container, opposite of transparent
open adjective, property of door or container, opposite of closed
openable adjective, property of door or container, opposite of unopenable
player's holdall
noun, a kind of container
plural-named adjective, property of thing, opposite of singular-named
portable adjective, property of thing, opposite of fixed in place
proper-named adjective, property of thing, opposite of improper-named
pushable between rooms adjective, property of thing
scenery adjective, property of thing
singular-named adjective, property of thing, opposite of plural-named
some determiner
some indefinite article
supporter noun, a kind of thing
switched off adjective, property of device, opposite of switched on
switched on adjective, property of device, opposite of switched off
the definite article
touchable adjective: Something is touchable if the player can touch it.
transparent adjective, property of container, opposite of opaque
unconcealed adjective: Something is unconcealed if the holder of it does not conceal it.
under half determiner used in conditions: true if fewer than half of possibilities work
undescribed adjective, property of thing, opposite of described
unlit adjective, property of thing, opposite of lit
unlocked adjective, property of door or container, opposite of locked
unmarked for listing adjective, property of thing or direction, opposite of marked for listing
unmentioned adjective, property of thing, opposite of mentioned
unopenable adjective, property of door or container, opposite of openable
untouchable adjective: Something is untouchable if the player cannot touch it.
unvisited adjective, property of room, opposite of visited
vehicle
noun, a kind of container
visible adjective: Something is visible if the player can see it.
visited adjective, property of room, opposite of unvisited
wearable adjective, property of thing
which connective used to place a further condition on a description: 'A which is B', or 'A which carries B', for instance.
who connective - see which.
Tables of verbs used in descriptions
present: A is B; A are B
past: A was B; A were B
present perfect: A has been B; A have been B
past perfect: A had been B
present: A do carry B; A does carry B; A carries B; A carry B
past: A did carry B; A carried B
present perfect: A has carried B; A have carried B
past perfect: A had carried B
present: A do conceal B; A does conceal B; A conceals B; A conceal B
past: A did conceal B; A concealed B
present perfect: A has concealed B; A have concealed B
past perfect: A had concealed B
present: A do contain B; A does contain B; A contains B; A contain B
past: A did contain B; A contained B
present perfect: A has contained B; A have contained B
past perfect: A had contained B
present: A do enclose B; A does enclose B; A encloses B; A enclose B
past: A did enclose B; A enclosed B
present perfect: A has enclosed B; A have enclosed B
past perfect: A had enclosed B
present: A do have B; A does have B; A has B; A have B
past: A did have B; A had B
present perfect: A has had B; A have had B
past perfect: A had had B
present: A do hold B; A does hold B; A holds B; A hold B
past: A did hold B; A held B
present perfect: A has held B; A have held B
past perfect: A had held B
present: A do incorporate B; A does incorporate B; A incorporates B; A incorporate B
past: A did incorporate B; A incorporated B
present perfect: A has incorporated B; A have incorporated B
past perfect: A had incorporated B
present: B can be seen by A; A can see B
past: B could be seen by A; A could see B
present perfect: A has ever seen B; A have ever seen B
past perfect: A had ever seen B
present: A do support B; A does support B; A supports B; A support B
past: A did support B; A supported B
present perfect: A has supported B; A have supported B
past perfect: A had supported B
present: B can be touched by A; A can touch B
past: B could be touched by A; A could touch B
present perfect: A has ever touched B; A have ever touched B
past perfect: A had ever touched B
present: A do unlock B; A does unlock B; A unlocks B; A unlock B
past: A did unlock B; A unlocked B
present perfect: A has unlocked B; A have unlocked B
past perfect: A had unlocked B
present: A do wear B; A does wear B; A wears B; A wear B
past: A did wear B; A wore B
present perfect: A has worn B; A have worn B
past perfect: A had worn B