diff --git a/fs/fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable.lua b/fs/fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable.lua
index 6118a6b..378e740 100644
--- a/fs/fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable.lua
+++ b/fs/fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable.lua
@@ -17,16 +17,31 @@ yl_speak_up.fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_p
 	local res = {}
 	local count_read = 0
 	local count_changed = 0
+	local var_val_in_text = "$VAR "..string.sub(var_name, 3)
 	for i, n_id in ipairs(npc_list) do
 		-- the NPC may not even be loaded
 		local dialog = yl_speak_up.load_dialog(n_id, false)
 		if(dialog and dialog.n_dialogs) then
 		for d_id, d in pairs(dialog.n_dialogs) do
+			-- show the value of the variable in the dialog text?
+			if(string.find(d.d_text or "", var_val_in_text)) then
+				-- we are not really dealing with an option - this is a variable displayed in the main text
+				local o = {o_id = "", o_text_when_prerequisites_met = "[The value of the variable is displayed in the dialog text.]"}
+				-- at least one blank is needed so that the text is displayed at all
+				yl_speak_up.print_as_table_dialog(" ", " ", dialog,
+					n_id, d_id, "", res, o, sort_value)
+			end
 			if(d and d.d_options) then
 			for o_id, o in pairs(d.d_options) do
 				local p_text = ""
 				local r_text = ""
 				local sort_value = 0
+				-- show the value of the variable in the options' text?
+				if(string.find(o.o_text_when_prerequisites_met or "", var_val_in_text)) then
+					p_text = p_text..yl_speak_up.print_as_table_alternate_text(
+							tostring(o.o_id), "", "",
+							"[Answer shows value of the variable in the text shown if ALL preconditions are FULFILLED.]")
+				end
 				if(o and o.o_prerequisites and check_preconditions) then
 				for p_id, p in pairs(o.o_prerequisites) do
 					if(p and p.p_type and p.p_type == "state"
@@ -37,6 +52,12 @@ yl_speak_up.fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_p
 					end
 				end
 				end
+				-- show the value of the variable in the options' text if preconditions failed?
+				if(string.find(o.o_text_when_prerequisites_not_met or "", var_val_in_text)) then
+					p_text = p_text..yl_speak_up.print_as_table_alternate_text(
+							tostring(o.o_id), "", "",
+							"[Answer shows value of the variable in the text shown if a precondition FAILED.]")
+				end
 				if(o and o.o_results) then
 				for r_id, r in pairs(o.o_results) do
 					if(r and r.r_type and r.r_type == "state"
@@ -47,6 +68,11 @@ yl_speak_up.fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_p
 						sort_value = (r.r_var_cmp_value or 0)
 						count_changed = count_changed + 1
 					end
+					if(r and r.alternate_text and string.find(r.alternate_text, var_val_in_text)) then
+						r_text = r_text..yl_speak_up.print_as_table_alternate_text(
+							tostring(r.r_id), "effect", "failed",
+							r.alternate_text)
+					end
 				end
 				end
 				-- if preconditions or effects apply: show the action as well
@@ -55,6 +81,11 @@ yl_speak_up.fs_get_list_of_usage_of_variable = function(var_name, pname, check_p
 					-- no need to introduce an a_text; this will follow
 					-- directly after p_text, and p_text is finished
 					p_text = p_text..yl_speak_up.print_as_table_action(a, pname)
+					if(a and a.alternate_text and string.find(r.alternate_text, var_val_in_text)) then
+						p_text = p_text..yl_speak_up.print_as_table_alternate_text(
+							tostring(a.a_id), "action", "failed",
+							a.alternate_text)
+					end
 				end
 				end
 				yl_speak_up.print_as_table_dialog(p_text, r_text, dialog,
diff --git a/print_as_table.lua b/print_as_table.lua
index 66ecdc7..b43d682 100644
--- a/print_as_table.lua
+++ b/print_as_table.lua
@@ -42,6 +42,17 @@ yl_speak_up.print_as_table_effect = function(r, pname)
 end
 
 
+yl_speak_up.print_as_table_alternate_text = function(where_used, col1, col2, alternate_text)
+	if(not(alternate_text) or alternate_text == "") then
+		return ""
+	end
+	return  ",#777777,"..minetest.formspec_escape(where_used or "")..
+		",#777777,"..minetest.formspec_escape(col1 or "")..
+		",#777777,"..minetest.formspec_escape(col2 or "")..
+		",#777777,"..minetest.formspec_escape(alternate_text)
+end
+
+
 yl_speak_up.print_as_table_action = function(a, pname)
 	return ",#FF9900,"..
 		minetest.formspec_escape(tostring(a.a_id))..