To describe a specific action (for instance in a "try" phrase), use the chart above and fill in exact values in place of each blue something. Thus "try looking" or "try unlocking the grating with the iron key".

To describe a pattern of actions (for instance in an "instead" rule), further optional clauses are available, and should appear in the order given below.

action or list of actions or kind of action
    in room
    in the presence of something
    when condition
    repetition

A list of actions might be "taking or dropping the key", but each action must apply to the same object(s). A kind of action will be as specified elsewhere in the source, e.g., "Attacking a person is violent behaviour" creates a kind of action called "violent behaviour". Any of the "somethings" above, or the "room", can be described vaguely using properties and kinds: thus "in a lighted room", or "in the presence of a woman", or "examining an open container". Following such a description by text like "(called the receptacle)" assigns a name to whatever is matched.

The going action has additional options, which can be given in any order:

going or going direction
    to room or nowhere
    from room
    by vehicle
    through door
    with something being pushed

If any of the from, to, by, through or with clauses are given, then the action is matched only if there is a potential route in the direction being tried. Thus "going from the Solarium" will not be matched if the player types "go east" in the Solarium and there is no east exit, but "going east", "going nowhere" or "going east in the Solarium" will.

Repetition is quoted either in "times" (number of times this has happened in the whole game to date) or "turns" (number of consecutive turns on which this has happened): thus "once", "at least twice", "for the 13th time", "at most six times", "for two to five turns". (Numbers can be textual up to 10 but must be given in digits from 11.) The description "doing it" means "the same action as described just now, but with a different repetition": thus "Instead of taking a container for the first time..." might be followed by "Instead of doing it for the second time...".