A1
1
Grouped
A2
2
Alphabetic
Bh
3
Behaviour
Cm
4
Commands
To
5
Tokens
Actions Index
Things that people can try to do

A1
1

Grouped — With similar actions grouped together
About actions  ; New actions  ; Out of world actions (in red)  

Standard actions concerning the actor's possessions
Taking inventory , Taking , Removing it from , Dropping , Putting it on , Inserting it into , Eating 

Standard actions which move the actor
Going , Entering , Exiting , Getting off 

Standard actions concerning the actor's vision
Looking , Examining , Looking under , Searching , Consulting it about 

Standard actions which change the state of things
Locking it with , Unlocking it with , Switching on , Switching off , Opening , Closing , Wearing , Taking off 

Standard actions concerning other people
Giving it to , Showing it to , Waking , Throwing it at , Attacking , Kissing , Answering it that , Telling it about , Asking it about , Asking it for 

Standard actions which are checked but then do nothing unless rules intervene
Waiting , Touching , Waving , Pulling , Pushing , Turning , Pushing it to , Squeezing 

Standard actions which always do nothing unless rules intervene
Saying yes , Saying no , Burning , Waking up , Thinking , Smelling , Listening to , Tasting , Cutting , Jumping , Tying it to , Drinking , Saying sorry , Swinging , Rubbing , Setting it to , Waving hands , Buying , Climbing , Sleeping 

Standard actions which happen out of world
Quitting the game , Saving the game , Restoring the game , Restarting the game , Verifying the story file , Switching the story transcript on , Switching the story transcript off , Requesting the story file version , Requesting the score , Preferring abbreviated room descriptions , Preferring unabbreviated room descriptions , Preferring sometimes abbreviated room descriptions , Switching score notification on , Switching score notification off , Requesting the pronoun meanings 

New actions defined in the source
Driving  , Reading  , Sitting down  , Lighting  , Lightsomething  , Using  , Smoking  , Helping  , Showing sanity  , Saying  , Screaming  , Returning  


A2
2

Alphabetic — Listed in alphabetical order
About actions  ; New actions  ; Out of world actions (in red)  

action    noun    second noun
answering it that     touchable object    topic
asking it about     touchable object    topic
asking it for     touchable object    touchable object
attacking     touchable object    
burning     touchable object    
buying     touchable object    
climbing     touchable object    
closing     touchable object    
consulting it about     touchable object    topic
cutting     touchable object    
drinking     touchable object    
driving     touchable object    
dropping     touchable object    
eating     touchable object    
entering     touchable object    
examining  requires light    object    
exiting     —    
getting off     touchable object    
giving it to     carried object    touchable object
going     object    
helping     —    
inserting it into     touchable object    touchable object
jumping     —    
kissing     touchable object    
lighting     —    
lightsomething     touchable object    
listening to     touchable object    
locking it with     touchable object    carried object
looking     —    
looking under  requires light    object    
opening     touchable object    
preferring abbreviated room descriptions     —    
preferring sometimes abbreviated room descriptions     —    
preferring unabbreviated room descriptions     —    
pulling     touchable object    
pushing     touchable object    
pushing it to     touchable object    object
putting it on     touchable object    touchable object
quitting the game     —    
reading     touchable object    
removing it from     touchable object    touchable object
requesting the pronoun meanings     —    
requesting the score     —    
requesting the story file version     —    
restarting the game     —    
restoring the game     —    
returning     topic    
rubbing     touchable object    
saving the game     —    
saying     touchable object    
saying no     —    
saying sorry     —    
saying yes     —    
screaming     topic    
searching  requires light    touchable object    
setting it to     touchable object    topic
showing it to     carried object    object
showing sanity     —    
sitting down     touchable object    
sleeping     —    
smelling     touchable object    
smoking     touchable object    
squeezing     touchable object    
swinging     touchable object    
switching off     touchable object    
switching on     touchable object    
switching score notification off     —    
switching score notification on     —    
switching the story transcript off     —    
switching the story transcript on     —    
taking     touchable object    
taking inventory     —    
taking off     touchable object    
tasting     touchable object    
telling it about     touchable object    topic
thinking     —    
throwing it at     carried object    object
touching     touchable object    
turning     touchable object    
tying it to     touchable object    touchable object
unlocking it with     touchable object    carried object
using     touchable object    
verifying the story file     —    
waiting     —    
waking     touchable object    
waking up     —    
waving     touchable object    
waving hands     —    
wearing     carried object    

Bh
3

Behaviour — Kinds of action, grouped under common names
About kinds of action  

No names for kinds of action have yet been defined.


Cm
4

Commands — Commands which the player can type
About commands  


"[direction]" - Going

"abstract", a testing command not available in the final game
"actions", a testing command not available in the final game
"adjust", same as "set" 
"am I ok"  - Showing sanity 
"answer [something]"  - Saying 
"answer [text] to [someone]" - Answering it that  (reversed)
"ask [someone] for [something]" - Asking it for 
"ask [someone] about [text]" - Asking it about 
"attach", same as "tie" 
"attack [something]" - Attacking 
"awake", same as "wake" 
"awaken", same as "wake" 

"break", same as "attack" 
"brief" - Preferring sometimes abbreviated room descriptions 
"burn [something]" - Burning 
"buy [something]" - Buying 

"carry", same as "take" 
"check", same as "examine" 
"chop", same as "cut" 
"clean", same as "rub" 
"clear", same as "push" 
"climb [something]" - Climbing 
"climb up/over [something]" - Climbing 
"close [something]" - Closing 
"close up [something]" - Closing 
"close off [something]" - Switching off 
"consult [something] on/about [text]" - Consulting it about 
"cover", same as "close" 
"crack", same as "attack" 
"cross", same as "enter" 
"current sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"cut [something]" - Cutting 

"describe", same as "examine" 
"destroy", same as "attack" 
"discard", same as "drop" 
"display", same as "show" 
"disrobe", same as "shed" 
"doff", same as "shed" 
"don", same as "wear" 
"drag", same as "pull" 
"drink [something]" - Drinking 
"drive [something]"  - Driving 
"drop [things preferably held]" - Dropping 
"drop [something preferably held] at/against [something]" - Throwing it at 
"drop [other things] in/into/down [something]" - Inserting it into 
"drop [other things] on/onto [something]" - Putting it on 
"dust", same as "rub" 

"eat [something preferably held]" - Eating 
"embrace", same as "kiss" 
"enter" - Entering 
"enter [something]" - Entering 
"enter in [something]"  - Entering 
"examine sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"examine sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"examine player"  - Showing sanity 
"examine [something]" - Examining 
"exit" - Exiting 
"explore [something]"  - Examining 

"fasten", same as "tie" 
"feed", same as "give" 
"feel", same as "touch" 
"fight", same as "attack" 

"get out/off/down/up" - Exiting 
"get in/on" - Entering 
"get [things]" - Taking 
"get in/into/on/onto [something]" - Entering 
"get off/down [something]" - Getting off 
"get [things inside] from [something]" - Removing it from 
"give [someone] [something preferably held]" - Giving it to  (reversed)
"give [something preferably held] to [someone]" - Giving it to 
"glklist", a testing command not available in the final game
"go" - Going 
"go [direction]" - Going 
"go [direction]"  - Going 
"go [something]" - Entering 
"go to [a direction]"  - Going 
"go into/in/inside/through [something]" - Entering 
"go to [something]"  - Examining 
"go to [something]"  - Examining 
"go back to [text]"  - Returning 
"go to [text]"  - Returning 
"gonear", a testing command not available in the final game

"hear [something]" - Listening to 
"help"  - Helping 
"hit", same as "attack" 
"hold", same as "take" 
"hop", same as "jump" 
"hug", same as "kiss" 

"i", same as "inventory" 
"insert [other things] in/into [something]" - Inserting it into 
"inspect [something]"  - Examining 
"inv", same as "inventory" 
"inventory" - Taking inventory 

"jump" - Jumping 

"kill", same as "attack" 
"kiss [someone]" - Kissing 

"l", same as "look" 
"leave", same as "exit" 
"light"  - Lighting 
"light [something]"  - Lightsomething 
"listen" - Listening to 
"listen to [something]" - Listening to 
"lit"  - Lighting 
"lit [something]"  - Lightsomething 
"lock [something] with [something preferably held]" - Locking it with 
"long" - Preferring unabbreviated room descriptions 
"look" - Looking 
"look around"  - Looking 
"look [something]" - Examining 
"look at [something]" - Examining 
"look inside/in/into/through [something]" - Searching 
"look under [something]" - Looking under 
"look for [something]"  - Examining 
"look up [text] in [something]" - Consulting it about  (reversed)

"move", same as "push" 
"murder", same as "attack" 

"nap", same as "sleep" 
"no" - Saying no 
"normal" - Preferring sometimes abbreviated room descriptions 
"notify" - Switching score notification on 
"notify on" - Switching score notification on 
"notify off" - Switching score notification off 
"nouns" - Requesting the pronoun meanings 

"offer", same as "give" 
"open [something]" - Opening 
"open [something] with [something preferably held]" - Unlocking it with 
"out", same as "exit" 

"pay", same as "give" 
"pick up [things]" - Taking 
"pick [things] up" - Taking 
"polish", same as "rub" 
"present", same as "show" 
"press", same as "push" 
"pronouns" - Requesting the pronoun meanings 
"prune", same as "cut" 
"pull [something]" - Pulling 
"punch", same as "attack" 
"purchase", same as "buy" 
"purloin", a testing command not available in the final game
"push [something]" - Pushing 
"push [something] [direction]" - Pushing it to 
"push [something] to [direction]" - Pushing it to 
"put on [something preferably held]" - Wearing 
"put [something preferably held] on" - Wearing 
"put down [things preferably held]" - Dropping 
"put [things preferably held] down" - Dropping 
"put [other things] in/inside/into [something]" - Inserting it into 
"put [other things] on/onto [something]" - Putting it on 

"q" - Quitting the game 
"quit" - Quitting the game 

"random", a testing command not available in the final game
"read [something]"  - Reading 
"relations", a testing command not available in the final game
"remove [something preferably held]" - Taking off 
"remove [things inside] from [something]" - Removing it from 
"responses", a testing command not available in the final game
"restart" - Restarting the game 
"restore" - Restoring the game 
"return to [text]"  - Returning 
"rotate", same as "turn" 
"rub [something]" - Rubbing 
"rules", a testing command not available in the final game
"run", same as "go" 

"sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"save" - Saving the game 
"say", same as "answer" 
"scale", same as "climb" 
"scenes", a testing command not available in the final game
"scope", a testing command not available in the final game
"score" - Requesting the score 
"scream [something]"  - Saying 
"scream [text]"  - Screaming 
"screw", same as "turn" 
"script" - Switching the story transcript on 
"script on" - Switching the story transcript on 
"script off" - Switching the story transcript off 
"scrub", same as "rub" 
"search [a direction]"  - Examining 
"search [something]" - Searching 
"search for clues"  - Helping 
"search for [something]"  - Examining 
"search in [something]"  - Examining 
"search around [something]"  - Examining 
"set [something] to [text]" - Setting it to 
"shed [something preferably held]" - Taking off 
"shift", same as "push" 
"shine", same as "rub" 
"short" - Preferring abbreviated room descriptions 
"shout", same as "answer" 
"show [someone] [something preferably held]" - Showing it to  (reversed)
"show [something preferably held] to [someone]" - Showing it to 
"showheap", a testing command not available in the final game
"showme", a testing command not available in the final game
"showverb", a testing command not available in the final game
"shut", same as "close" 
"sip", same as "drink" 
"sit on [something]"  - Sitting down 
"sit down on [something]"  - Sitting down 
"sit up on [something]"  - Sitting down 
"skip", same as "jump" 
"sleep" - Sleeping 
"slice", same as "cut" 
"smash", same as "attack" 
"smell" - Smelling 
"smell [something]" - Smelling 
"smoke [something]"  - Smoking 
"sniff", same as "smell" 
"sorry" - Saying sorry 
"speak", same as "answer" 
"squash", same as "squeeze" 
"squeeze [something]" - Squeezing 
"stand" - Exiting 
"stand up" - Exiting 
"stand on [something]" - Entering 
"superbrief" - Preferring abbreviated room descriptions 
"swallow", same as "drink" 
"sweep", same as "rub" 
"swing [something]" - Swinging 
"swing on [something]" - Swinging 
"switch [something switched on]" - Switching off 
"switch [something]" - Switching on 
"switch on [something]" - Switching on 
"switch [something] on" - Switching on 
"switch [something] off" - Switching off 
"switch off [something]" - Switching off 

"take inventory" - Taking inventory 
"take [things]" - Taking 
"take off [something]" - Taking off 
"take [something] off" - Taking off 
"take [things inside] from [something]" - Removing it from 
"take [things inside] off [something]" - Removing it from 
"taste [something]" - Tasting 
"tell [someone] about [text]" - Telling it about 
"test", a testing command not available in the final game
"think" - Thinking 
"throw", same as "drop" 
"thump", same as "attack" 
"tie [something] to [something]" - Tying it to 
"torture", same as "attack" 
"touch [something]" - Touching 
"trace", a testing command not available in the final game
"transcript" - Switching the story transcript on 
"transcript on" - Switching the story transcript on 
"transcript off" - Switching the story transcript off 
"tree", a testing command not available in the final game
"turn [something]" - Turning 
"turn [something] on" - Switching on 
"turn on [something]" - Switching on 
"turn [something] off" - Switching off 
"turn off [something]" - Switching off 
"twist", same as "turn" 

"uncover", same as "open" 
"unlock [something] with [something preferably held]" - Unlocking it with 
"unscrew", same as "turn" 
"unwrap", same as "open" 
"use [something]"  - Using 

"verbose" - Preferring unabbreviated room descriptions 
"verify" - Verifying the story file 
"version" - Requesting the story file version 

"wait" - Waiting 
"wake" - Waking up 
"wake up" - Waking up 
"wake [someone]" - Waking 
"wake [someone] up" - Waking 
"wake up [someone]" - Waking 
"walk", same as "go" 
"watch", same as "examine" 
"wave" - Waving hands 
"wave [something]" - Waving 
"wear [something preferably held]" - Wearing 
"what is my sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"what is my current sanity"  - Showing sanity 
"where is [text]"  - Returning 
"wipe", same as "rub" 
"wreck", same as "attack" 

"x", same as "examine" 

"y", same as "yes" 
"yes" - Saying yes 

"z", same as "wait" 

To
5

Tokens — Those square-bracketed pieces inside Understand grammar
About tokens  ; New tokens  

In addition to the tokens listed below, any description of an object or value can be used: for example, "[number]" matches text like 127 or SIX, and "[open door]" matches the name of any nearby door which is currently open.

Names of objects are normally understood only when they are within sight, but writing 'any' lifts this restriction. So "[any person]" allows every name of a person, wherever they happen to be.

"[anybody]"  - same as "[someone]"

"[anyone]"  - same as "[someone]"

"[anything]"  - same as "[thing]"

"[other things]" 

"[somebody]"  - same as "[someone]"

"[someone]" 

"[something]"  - same as "[thing]"

"[something preferably held]" 

"[text]" 

"[things]" 

"[things inside]" 

"[things preferably held]" 

"[a time period]"