Inform & Tads general verbs

Being an Adrift user, I have come across a couple of reviews of my latest game where the player has trouble with the commands. These reviewers are mainly Inform or Tads users, and apparently there are some difference between the verbs used in these two developers and the Adrift.
Of course I want people to play my games and of course I want them to have as good an experience as possible. I would be happy to add Inform & Tads verbs into my games to make them easier to play.

Is it possible to get a list of generally accepted verbs in Inform & Tads?

4 Likes

Here’s a list automatically generated from a nearly blank Inform 7 game:

"[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" 
"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" 
"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 
"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 
"examine [something]" - Examining 
"exit" - Exiting 

"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 [something]" - Entering 
"go into/in/inside/through [something]" - Entering 
"gonear", a testing command not available in the final game

"hear [something]" - Listening to 
"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 
"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", same as "burn" 
"listen" - Listening to 
"listen to [something]" - Listening to 
"lock [something] with [something preferably held]" - Locking it with 
"long" - Preferring unabbreviated room descriptions 
"look" - Looking 
"look [something]" - Examining 
"look at [something]" - Examining 
"look inside/in/into/through [something]" - Searching 
"look under [something]" - Looking under 
"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]" - Examining 
"read about [text] in [something]" - Consulting it about  (reversed)
"read [text] in [something]" - Consulting it about  (reversed)
"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 
"rotate", same as "turn" 
"rub [something]" - Rubbing 
"rules", a testing command not available in the final game
"run", same as "go" 

"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 
"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 [something]" - Searching 
"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/in/inside [something]" - Entering 
"sit on top of [something]" - Entering 
"skip", same as "jump" 
"sleep" - Sleeping 
"slice", same as "cut" 
"smash", same as "attack" 
"smell" - Smelling 
"smell [something]" - Smelling 
"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" 

"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 
"wipe", same as "rub" 
"wreck", same as "attack" 

"x", same as "examine" 

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

"z", same as "wait" 

Hopefully someone can provide a comparable list for TADS. :slight_smile:

5 Likes

Thanks a million, Patrick. I am sure this list will be of tremendous help.

2 Likes

Here’s a list of commands accepted by default in Adv3Lite:

Grammar List:

Verbs

A

a topic AskAboutImplicit
a someone about topic AskAbout
a someone for topic AskFor
a someone how/if/when/where/whether/who topic QueryAbout
a for topic AskForImplicit
a for topic from someone AskFor
a how/if/what/when/where/whether/who QueryVague
a how/if/when/where/whether/who topic Query
about About
activate something SwitchOn
aft Travel
again Again
affirmative SayYes
are topic Query
ask topic AskAboutImplicit
ask someone about topic AskAbout
ask someone for topic AskFor
ask someone how/if/when/where/whether/who topic QueryAbout
ask about topic AskAboutImplicit
ask for topic AskForImplicit
ask for topic from someone AskFor
ask how/if/what/when/where/whether/who QueryVague
ask how/if/what/when/where/whether/who topic Query
attach something Attach
attach something to something AttachTo
attack something Attack
attack something with something AttackWith

B

back GoBack
blow something out Extinguish
blow out something Extinguish
board something Board
break something Break
brief Brief
bye Goodbye
buckle [up] something Fasten
buckle something to something FastenTo
burn something Burn
burn something with something BurnWith

C

c Continue
can topic Query
clean something Clean
clean something with something CleanWith
climb something Climb
climb down ClimbDownVague
climb down something ClimbDown
climb in/inside/in to/into something Enter
climb on/on to/onto something Board
climb out GetOut
climb out of something GetOutOf
climb up ClimbUpVague
climb up something ClimbUp
close something Close
cogitate Think
cogitate about topic ThinkAbout
consult something about/on topic ConsultAbout
connect something Attach
connect something to something AttachTo
consume something Eat
continue Continue
could topic Query
credits Credits

D

d Travel
debug DebugI
debug actions/doers/messages/spelling/status/stop/off Debug
deactivate something SwitchOff
destroy something Break
detach something Detach
detach something from something DetachFrom
dig something Dig
dig something with something DigWith
disconnect something Detach
disconnect something from something DetachFrom
disembark GetOut
do/does topic Query
doff something Doff
don something Wear
douse something Extinguish
down Travel
drag something direction PushTravelDir
drag something down something PushTravelClimbDown
drag something in/in to/into something PushTravelEnter
drag something out/out of something PushTravelGetOutOf
drag something through/thru something PushTravelThrough
drag something up something PushTravelClimbUp
drink something Drink
drop something Drop
drop something on/onto/on to/upon something PutOn

E

e Travel
east Travel
eat something Eat
enter GoIn
enter something Enter
enter literal in/in to/into/on/with something EnterOn
eval literal Evaluate
examine something Examine
extinguish something Extinguish
exit GoOut
exit something GetOutOf
exit colo[u]r off/on/blue/green/red/yellow ExitsColour
exits Exits
exits all ExitsMode
exits colo[u]r off/on/blue/green/red/yellow ExitsColour
exits look ExitsMode
exits none ExitsMode
exits off/on ExitsMode
exits status/status line/statusline ExitsMode

F

f Travel
fasten something Fasten
fasten something to something FastenTo
feel something Feel
fiat lux FiatLux
find topic ConsultWhatAbout
find topic in/on something ConsultAbout
flip something Flip
follow something Follow
fore Travel
full/full score/fullscore FullScore

G

g Again
get something Take
get something from/out of/off/off of something TakeFrom
get down GetOut
get down from something GetOff
get in/inside/in to/into something Enter
get off GetOut
get off/off of something GetOff
get on/on to/onto something Board
get out GetOut
get out of something GetOutOf
get up Stand
give something GiveToImplicit
give someone something GiveTo
give something to someone GiveTo
gn something GoNear
goodbye/good-bye/good bye Goodbye
go VagueTravel
go direction Travel
go back GoBack
go down ClimbDownVague
go down something ClimbDown
go in/inside/in to/into something Enter
go near something GoNear
go through/thru something GoThrough
go to|to the direction Travel
go to somewhere GoTo
go up ClimbUpVague
go up something ClimbUp
gonear something GoNear
greet someone TalkTo

H

hallo Hello
have/has topic Query
hello Hello
hi Hello
hit something Attack
hit something with something AttackWith
hint Hints
hints Hints
hints off HintsOff
holler Yell
how topic Query

I

i Inventory
if topic Query
ignite something Burn
ignite something with something BurnWith
imbibe something Drink
in Travel
insert something in/into/in to/inside/inside of something PutIn
inspect something Examine
inv Inventory
inventory Inventory
is topic Query

J

jump Jump
jump something JumpOver
jump off JumpOffIntransitive
jump off something JumpOff
jump over something JumpOver

K

kick something Attack
kill something Attack
kill something with something AttackWith
kiss something Kiss

L

l Look
l something Examine
l topic up ConsultWhatAbout
l topic up in/on something ConsultAbout
l around Look
l at something Examine
l behind something LookBehind
l for topic ConsultWhatAbout
l for topic in/on something ConsultAbout
l in/inside something LookIn
l tests (/fully) ListTests
l through/thru something LookThrough
l under something LookUnder
l up topic ConsultWhatAbout
l up topic in/on something ConsultAbout
leave GoOut
leave something GetOutOf
let there be light FiatLux
lie down Lie
lie down in something LieIn
lie down on something LieOn
lie in something LieIn
lie on something LieOn
light something Light
light something with something BurnWith
list tests (/fully) ListTests
listenListen
listen to something ListenTo
lock something Lock
lock something with something LockWith
look Look
look something Examine
look topic up ConsultWhatAbout
look topic up in/on something ConsultAbout
look around Look
look at something Examine
look behind something LookBehind
look for topic ConsultWhatAbout
look for topic in/on something ConsultAbout
look in/inside something LookIn
look through/thru something LookThrough
look under something LookUnder
look up topic ConsultWhatAbout
look up topic in/on something ConsultAbout

M

move something Move
move something direction PushTravelDir
move something down something PushTravelClimbDown
move something in/in to/into something PushTravelEnter
move something out/out of something PushTravelGetOutOf
move something to/under something MoveTo
move something through/thru something PushTravelThrough
move something up something PushTravelClimbUp
move something with something MoveWith

N

n Travel
ne Travel
negative SayNo
no No
north Travel
northeast Travel
notify Notify
notify off NotifyOff
notify on NotifyOn

O

offer something GiveToImplicit
offer someone something GiveTo
offer something to someone GiveTo
open something Open
out Travel
out of something GetOutOf

P

p Travel
peer through/thru something LookThrough
pick something up Take
pick up something Take
place something behind something PutBehind
place something in/into/in to/inside/inside of something PutIn
place something on/onto/on to/upon something PutOn
place something under something PutUnder
plug something in PlugIn
plug something in/in to/into something PlugInto
plug in something PlugIn
pn something Purloin
ponder Think
ponder about topic ThinkAbout
port Travel
pour something Pour
pour something in/in to/into something PourInto
pour something on/on to/onto something PourOnto
press something Push
pull something Pull
pull something direction PushTravelDir
pull something down something PushTravelClimbDown
pull something in/in to/into something PushTravelEnter
pull something out/out of something PushTravelGetOutOf
pull something through/thru something PushTravelThrough
pull something up something PushTravelClimbUp
punch something Attack
purloin something Purloin
push something Push
push something direction PushTravelDir
push something down something PushTravelClimbDown
push something in/in to/into something PushTravelEnter
push something out/out of something PushTravelGetOutOf
push something to/under something MoveTo
push something through/thru something PushTravelThrough
push something up something PushTravelClimbUp
put something down Drop
put something behind something PutBehind
put something in/into/in to/inside/inside of something PutIn
put something on Wear
put something on/onto/on to/upon something PutOn
put something out Extinguish
put something under something PutUnder
put down something Drop
put on something Wear
put out something Extinguish

Q

q Quit
quaff something Drink
quit Quit

R

read something Read
read about topic ConsultWhatAbout
read about topic in/on something ConsultAbout
record [filename] RecordOn
record events [filename] RecordEvents
record events on RecordEvents
record off RecordOff
record on RecordOn
remove something Remove
remove something from something TakeFrom
replay [filename] Replay
replay nonstop/quiet [filename] Replay
restart Restart
restore [filename] Restore
return GoBack
rotate something Turn
rotate something to literal TurnTo
rotate something with something TurnWith
rq [filename] Replay
ruin something Break
run VagueTravel
run direction Travel

S

s Travel
save [filename] Save
say topic Say
say topic to someone SayTo
say bye/goodbye/good-bye/good bye Goodbye
say hallo/hello/hi Hello
say hello to someone TalkTo
say no SayNo
say that topic Say
say that topic to someone SayTo
say yes SayYes
sb Travel
screw something Screw
screw something with something ScrewWith
score Score
scream Yell
script [filename] ScriptOn
script off ScriptOff
script on ScriptOn
se Travel
search something Search
search something for topic ConsultAbout
search for topic ConsultWhatAbout
search for topic in/on something ConsultAbout
set something Set
set something down Drop
set something behind something PutBehind
set something in/into/in to/inside/inside of something PutIn
set something on/onto/on to/upon something PutOn
set something to literal SetTo
set something under something PutUnder
set down something Drop
set fire to something Burn
set fire to something with something BurnWith
sit Sit
sit down Sit
sit down in something SitIn
sit down on something SitOn
sit in something SitIn
sit on something SitOn
sleep Sleep
smash something Break
should topic Query
shout Yell
show something ShowToImplicit
show someone something ShowTo
show something to someone ShowTo
shut something Close
smell Smell
smell something SmellSomething
sniff Smell
sniff something SmellSomething
south Travel
southeast Travel
southwest Travel
status Score
stand Stand
stand in|in to|into something StandIn
stand on|on to|onto something StandOn
stand up Stand
starboard Travel
strike something with something AttackWith
sw Travel
switch something SwitchVague
switch something off SwitchOff
switch something on SwitchOn
switch off something SwitchOff
switch on something SwitchOn

T

t topic TellAboutImplicit
t someone about topic TellAbout
talk about topic TalkAboutImplicit
talk to someone TalkTo
talk to someone about topic TalkAbout
take something Take
take something off Doff dobj
take something from/out of/off/off of something TakeFrom
take inventory Inventory
take off something Doff dobj
taste something Taste
tell topic TellAboutImplicit
tell someone about topic TellAbout
tell someone that topic SayTo
tell someone to literal TellTo
tell me about topic AskAboutImplicit
terse Brief
test literal DoTest
think Think
think about topic ThinkAbout
throw something Throw
throw something direction ThrowDir
throw someone something ThrowTo
throw something at something ThrowAt
throw something to/to the direction ThrowDir
throw something to someone ThrowTo
throw d/down something ThrowDir
topics Topics
toss something Throw
toss something direction ThrowDir
toss something at something ThrowAt
toss something to/to the direction ThrowDir
toss something to someone ThrowTo
touch something Feel
turn something Turn
turn something off SwitchOff
turn something on SwitchOn
turn something to literal TurnTo
turn something with something TurnWith
turn off something SwitchOff
turn on something SwitchOn
twist something Turn
twist something to literal TurnTo
twist something with something TurnWith
type literal Type
type literal on something TypeOn
type on something TypeOnVague

U

u Travel
unbuckle something Unfasten
unbuckle something from something UnfastenFrom
undo Undo
unfasten something Unfasten
unfasten something from something UnfastenFrom
unlock something Unlock
unlock something with something UnlockWith
unplug something Unplug
unplug something from something UnplugFrom
unscrew something Unscrew
unscrew something with something UnscrewWith
up Travel

V

verbose Verbose
version Version

W

wait Wait
walk VagueTravel
walk direction Travel
walk down ClimbDownVague
walk down something ClimbDown
walk in/inside/in to/into something Enter
walk through/thru something GoThrough
walk to|to the direction Travel
walk to somewhere GoTo
walk up ClimbUpVague
walk up something ClimbUp
wear something Wear
what/when/where/whether/who topic Query
wordy Verbose
would topic Query
wreck something Break
write literal Write
write literal in/on something WriteOn

X

x something Examine

Y

yell Yell
yes SayYes

Z

z Wait

2 Likes