And for table of verbs
See below for lexicon of words used in descriptions
And for table of verbs
Saying
The score and the outcome
Actions and activities
Moving and removing things
Arithmetic
Time
Randomness
Tables
Searching and sorting tables
Changing properties and variables
Listing things in a given place
The player's command
Loops and conditionals
Accessibility
Fonts and visual effects
Following rules
Success and failure of rules
Procedural manipulation of rules
From the extension Simple Chat
Miscellaneous
From the extension Basic Screen Effects
Spacing and Pausing
Colors (for Z-machine only)
Brought into being by new kinds of value
What are phrases? 
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
say (some text with substitutions)
say "[a value of some sort]"
say "[s]"
say "[a time in words]"
say "[a number in words]"
say "[the a number in words]"
say "[a the name of something]"
say "[an the name of something]"
say "[A the name of something]"
say "[An the name of something]"
say "[the the name of something]"
say "[The the name of something]"
say "[the player's surroundings]"
say "[list of extension credits]"
say "[complete list of extension credits]"
say "[banner text]"
say "[if a condition]"
say "[end if]"
say "[otherwise]"
say "[otherwise if a condition]"
say "[line break]"
say "[no line break]"
say "[conditional paragraph break]"
say "[command clarification break]"
say "[paragraph break]"
say "[run paragraph on]"
say "[bracket]"
say "[close bracket]"
say "[apostrophe/']"
say "[quotation mark]"
display (the name of a figure)
optionally one time only
play (the name of a sound effect)
optionally one time only
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]"
The score and the outcome
change the/-- player to (the name of something)
award (a number) point
award (a number) points
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 ...
Actions and activities
try (an action)
silently try (an action)
try silently (an action)
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 the action
continue the action
continue the activity
carry out the (an activity) activity
begin the (an activity) activity
if handling (an activity) activity ...
end the (an activity) activity
carry out the (an activity) activity with (the name of something)
begin the (an activity) activity with (the name of something)
if handling (an activity) activity with (the name of something) ...
end the (an activity) activity with (the name of something)
if (an activity) activity is going on ...
do nothing
it does
it does not
Moving and removing things
remove (the name of something) from play
move (the name of something) to (the name of something)
optionally without printing a room description,
or printing an abbreviated room description
holder of (the name of something) ... the name of something
next thing held after (the name of something) ... the name of something
first thing held by (the name of something) ... the name of something
if in (the name of something) ...
if in darkness ...
best route from (the name of something) to (the name of something) ... the name of something
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
number of moves from (the name of something) to (the name of something) ... a number
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
best route from (the name of something) to (the name of something) through (a description) ... the name of something
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
number of moves from (the name of something) to (the name of something) through (a description) ... a number
optionally using doors,
or using even locked doors
room (a description of an object) from (a description of an object)
other side of (a description of an object) from (a description of an object) ... the name of something
direction of (a description of an object) from (a description of an object) ... the name of something
room-or-door (a description of an object) from (a description of an object) ... the name of something
change (a description of an object) exit of (a description of an object) to (a description of an object)
change (a description of an object) exit of (a description of an object) to nothing/nowhere
next step via (a relation) from (the name of something) to (the name of something) ... the name of something
number of steps via (a relation) from (the name of something) to (the name of something) ... a number
front side of (the name of something)
back side of (the name of something)
location of (the name of something)
Arithmetic
number of (a description) ... 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
(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 belonging to something) of (a description) ... a number
Time
(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
(a number) minutes ... a time
(a number) hours ... a time
(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
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 ...
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
Randomness
a random (a description) ... the name of something
random (a description) ... the name of something
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)
Tables
number of rows in (the name of a table) ... a number
number of blank rows in (the name of a table) ... a number
number of filled rows in (the name of a table) ... a number
if there is (an entry in a table) ...
if there is no (an entry in a table) ...
change (an entry in a table) to (a value of some sort)
delete (an entry in a table)
blank out the whole row
choose row (a number) in (the name of a table)
choose the/-- row with (the name of a column) of (a value of some sort) in (the name of a table)
choose a blank row in (the name of a table)
choose a random row in (the name of a table)
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]"
Searching and sorting 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
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
Changing properties and variables
let (the name of some quantity) be (a value of some sort)
change (a property belonging to something) to (a value of some sort)
change (a global variable) to (a value of some sort)
change (the name of some quantity) to (a value of some sort)
increase/increment (a property belonging to something) by (a value of some sort)
increase/increment (a global variable) by (a value of some sort)
increase/increment (the name of some quantity) by (a value of some sort)
increase/increment (an entry in a table) by (a value of some sort)
decrease/decrement (a property belonging to something) by (a value of some sort)
decrease/decrement (a global variable) by (a value of some sort)
decrease/decrement (the name of some quantity) by (a value of some sort)
decrease/decrement (an entry in a table) by (a value of some sort)
change (the name of something) to (a property belonging to something)
change (the name of something) to (a value of some sort)
if (the name of something) provides the property (a property belonging to something) ...
if (the name of something) does not provide the property (a property belonging to something) ...
now (a sentence to make come true)
Listing things in a given place
list the contents of (the name of something)
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 something]"
say "[the contents of the name of something]"
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]"
group (a description) together
group (a description) together giving articles
group (a description) together as (some text)
omit contents in listing
place (the name of something) in scope
optionally but not its contents
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) ...
replace (a snippet) with (some text)
cut (a snippet)
reject the player's command
if player consents ...
Loops and conditionals
if (a condition) then (an instruction to do something)
if (a condition) , (an instruction to do something)
otherwise if (a condition)
else if (a condition)
otherwise (an instruction to do something)
else (an instruction to do something)
if (a condition) begin; ...; end if
while (a condition) repeatedly (an instruction to do something)
while (a condition) , (an instruction to do something)
while (a condition) begin; ...; end while
repeat with (a name for a number) running from (a number) to (a number) begin; ...; end repeat
repeat with (a name for the name of something) running through (a description) begin; ...; end repeat
issue the error (some text)
stop
yes
no
decide on (a value of some sort)
decide yes
decide no
if using the/-- (the name of a use option) ...
Accessibility
if (the name of something) is inaccessible ...
optionally saying if not
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)
Following rules
follow (the name of a rule)
consider (the name of a rule)
abide by (the name of a rule)
follow (the name of a rule) for (the name of something)
consider (the name of a rule) for (the name of something)
abide by (the name of a rule) for (the name of something)
Success and failure of rules
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 of rules
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)
Miscellaneous
allow exiting on zero [E1]
forbid exiting on zero [E1]
if exiting on zero is allowed ... [E1]
activate (a chat node) [E1]
deactivate (a chat node) [E1]
if (a chat node) is active ... [E1]
link to (a chat node) [E1]
reset the links [E1]
run a conversation from (a chat node) [E1]
choice made from (a number) to (a number) ... a number [E1]
Spacing and Pausing
clear the screen [E2]
clear only the main screen [E2]
clear only the status line [E2]
wait for any key [E2]
wait for the SPACE key [E2]
chosen letter ... a number [E2]
pause the game [E2]
center (some text with substitutions) [E2]
center (some text) [E2]
center (some text with substitutions) at row (a number) [E2]
center (some text) at row (a number) [E2]
stop game abruptly [E2]
screen width ... a number [E2]
screen height ... a number [E2]
deepen status line to (a number) rows [E2]
move cursor to (a number) [E2]
right align cursor to (a number) [E2]
fill status bar with (the name of a table) [E2]
Colors (for Z-machine only)
say "[default letters]" [E2]
say "[red letters]" [E2]
say "[green letters]" [E2]
say "[yellow letters]" [E2]
say "[blue letters]" [E2]
say "[magenta letters]" [E2]
say "[cyan letters]" [E2]
say "[white letters]" [E2]
say "[black letters]" [E2]
turn the background black [E2]
turn the background red [E2]
turn the background green [E2]
turn the background yellow [E2]
turn the background blue [E2]
turn the background magenta [E2]
turn the background cyan [E2]
turn the background white [E2]
show the current quotation [E2]
Brought into being by new kinds of value
conversation exiting after (a conversation exiting) ... conversation exiting
conversation exiting before (a conversation exiting) ... conversation exiting
a random conversation exiting ... conversation exiting
random conversation exiting ... conversation exiting
a random conversation exiting between (a conversation exiting) and (a conversation exiting) ... conversation exiting
a random conversation exiting from (a conversation exiting) to (a conversation exiting) ... conversation exiting
together with similar constructions for chat node and activatedness
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
activate verb
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 determiner - see a
an Inform library animate object adjective, property of thing,
an Inform library container adjective, property of thing,
an Inform library door adjective, property of thing,
an Inform library male adjective, property of thing,
an Inform library supporter adjective, property of thing,
animal noun, a kind of person
at least determiner used to count things: 'at least five doors'
at most determiner - see at least
backdrop noun, a kind of thing
be verb
carry verb
closed adjective, property of door, container, , opposite of open
conceal verb
concealed adjective: Something is concealed if the holder of it conceals it
contain verb
container noun, a kind of thing
dark adjective, property of room, , opposite of lighted
described adjective, property of thing, , opposite of undescribed
device noun, a kind of thing
direction noun, a kind
door noun, a kind of thing
each determiner - see all
edible adjective, property of thing, , opposite of inedible
enclose verb
enterable adjective, property of thing,
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,
have verb
hold verb
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
known 
adjective, property of person, , opposite of unknown
less than determiner - see more than
lighted adjective, property of room, , opposite of dark
lit adjective, property of thing, , opposite of unlit
lockable adjective, property of door, container,
locked adjective, property of door, container, , opposite of unlocked
male adjective, property of person, , opposite of female
man noun, a kind of person
marked for listing adjective, property of thing, 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...'
no quip chosen [E1] adjective, value of Chat node
none determiner opposite of 'all of': 'if none of the doors is open...'
off-stage adjective: Something is off-stage if the world model does not include it
on-stage adjective: Something is on-stage if the world model includes it
opaque adjective, property of thing, , opposite of transparent
open adjective, property of door, container, , opposite of closed
openable adjective, property of door, container, , opposite of unopenable
person noun, a kind of thing
player may exit upon zero [E1] adjective, value of Conversation exiting
player may not exit [E1] adjective, value of Conversation exiting
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,
quip on [E1] adjective, value of Activatedness
region noun, a kind
room noun, a kind
sc_inv_1 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_2 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_3 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_4 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_5 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_6 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_7 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_inv_8 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_1 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_2 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_3 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_4 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_5 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_6 adjective, value of Chat node
sc_peek_7 adjective, value of Chat node
scenery adjective, property of thing,
see, to be able to verb
singular-named adjective, property of thing, , opposite of plural-named
some determiner
some indefinite article
support verb
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
thing noun, a kind
touch, to be able to verb
touchable adjective: Something is touchable if the player can touch it
transparent adjective, property of thing, , 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
unknown adjective, property of person, , opposite of known
unlit adjective, property of thing, , opposite of lit
unlock verb
unlocked adjective, property of door, container, , opposite of locked
unmarked for listing adjective, property of thing, direction, , opposite of marked for listing
unmentioned adjective, property of thing, , opposite of mentioned
unopenable adjective, property of door, 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
wear verb
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.
woman noun, a kind of person
Tables of verbs used in descriptions
present: A do activate B; A does activate B; A activates B; A activate B
past: A did activate B; A activated B
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: 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
[E1]. Defined in Simple Chat by Mark Tilford
[E2]. Defined in Basic Screen Effects by Emily Short