Anyway, my original question was concerning a list of common commands/verbs
that IF games recognize.
I got this response in e-mail from Robert M. Dickau <robertd@wri.com>:
(edited for brevity)
--- A good basic list is in the Designer's Manual for Graham Nelson's Inform language. I can explain cryptic ones, if you'd like."1a. Quit, Restart, Restore, Verify, Save, ScriptOn, ScriptOff, Pronouns, Score, Fullscore, LMode1, LMode2, LMode3, NotifyOn, NotifyOff, Version, Places, Objects.
2. Inv, InvTall, InvWide, Take, Drop, Remove, PutOn, Insert, Transfer, Empty, Enter, Exit, GetOff, Go, GoIn, Look, Examine, Search, Give, Show, Unlock, Lock, SwitchOn, SwitchOff, Open, Close, Disrobe, Wear, Eat.
3. Yes, No, Burn, Pray, Wake, WakeOther [person], Consult, Kiss, Think, Smell, Listen, Taste, Touch, Dig, Cut, Jump [jump on the spot], JumpOver, Tie, Drink, Fill, Sorry, Strong [swear word], Mild [swear word], Attack, Swim, Swing [something], Blow, Rub, Set, SetTo, WaveHands [ie, just "wave"], Wave [something], Pull, Push, PushDir [push something in a direction], Turn, Squeeze, LookUnder [look underneath something], ThrowAt, Answer, Buy, Ask, AskFor, Sing, Climb, Wait, Sleep."
--- This list is exactly what I was looking for. Anyway, I downloaded the Designer's Manual for Inform, and I must tell you, it's one of the best things I've ever read... and I learned that the above list is not really what I was wanting, since these are the 'internal' names for the code (or whatever you want to call 'em), while I was looking for the actual strings that are recoginized and parsed. Well, I found what I was looking for, along with a host of other information that I was going to ask for eventually (like the default messages and properties/attributes that objects can have).Thanks much, everyone.
Andy
(download the Designer's Manual now!)