diff --git a/mers_lib/src/parsing/mod.rs b/mers_lib/src/parsing/mod.rs
index 2e126b1..e737428 100755
--- a/mers_lib/src/parsing/mod.rs
+++ b/mers_lib/src/parsing/mod.rs
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ impl Source {
         Some(ch)
     }
     fn word_splitter(ch: char) -> bool {
-        ch.is_whitespace() || ".,;)}".contains(ch)
+        ch.is_whitespace() || ".,;[](){}".contains(ch)
     }
     pub fn peek_word(&self) -> &str {
         self.src[self.i..]
diff --git a/mers_lib/src/parsing/statements.rs b/mers_lib/src/parsing/statements.rs
index 643cff7..cf623cb 100755
--- a/mers_lib/src/parsing/statements.rs
+++ b/mers_lib/src/parsing/statements.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,16 @@ pub fn parse(src: &mut Source) -> Result<Option<Box<dyn program::parsed::MersSta
             if let Some('.') = src.peek_char() {
                 src.next_char();
                 let chained = parse_no_chain(src)?.expect("err: EOF instead of chain");
+                // allow a.f(b, c) syntax (but not f(a, b, c))
+                if let Some('(') = src.peek_char() {
+                    let pos_in_src = src.get_pos();
+                    src.next_char();
+                    let elems = parse_multiple(src, ")")?;
+                    first = Box::new(program::parsed::tuple::Tuple {
+                        pos_in_src: (pos_in_src, src.get_pos()).into(),
+                        elems: [first].into_iter().chain(elems).collect(),
+                    });
+                }
                 first = Box::new(program::parsed::chain::Chain {
                     pos_in_src: (pos_in_src, src.get_pos()).into(),
                     first,