I'm having this error message come up attached to the read verb, which is built into the game. It's strange because I'm using "first" and the first time works fine, but instead of running the otherwise it pops up this message. When I attach the same code to any other verb it works fine.

Can you share the code for the verb?
I can think of a couple of situations that might lead to that error, and I've got a pretty good guess which one it will be. But without seeing the code, it would only be a wild guess.

firsttime {
  msg ("description")
  SetObjectFlagOn (Athrin Book, "read")
}
otherwise {
  firsttime {
    msg ("translation1")
  }
  otherwise {
    firsttime {
      msg ("translation2")
    }
    otherwise {
      firsttime {
        msg ("translation3")
      }
      otherwise {
        firsttime {
          if (Got(pencil)) {
            msg ("Notes.")
          }
          else {
            msg ("No notes.")
          }
          msg ("<p style=\"font-family:'georgia serif';padding:20px;border:4px solid white;text-align:left\"><font color = \"black\"><br/>Text you translated." <p>")
          if (GetBoolean(the Lost Pirates series book two chapter three, "done")) {
            msg ("<br/>More info.")
          }
          if (GetBoolean(the controversy about the Lost Pirates series, "done")) {
            msg ("<br/>More info.")
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

FIXED. The problem was that my flag name was the same as my verb. Stupid.

I kind of thought that might be the case; given that "read" is both a verb and an adjective. But couldn't find a way to say it that wouldn't sound condescending if I was wrong.

The "No verb response defined" comes up in 2 circumstances: If the object doesn't have that verb and the verb doesn't have a default "You can't read it." message; or if the verb attribute is set to some type other than string, script, or scriptdictionary.

I'm glad it was something simple :p thank you for always being willing to help :)