diff --git a/lexer/token.go b/lexer/token.go
index 466785f..66c7a4c 100644
--- a/lexer/token.go
+++ b/lexer/token.go
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ type Token struct {
 	value    any
 }
 
+// NewToken provides a way for a new token to be created by other modules for
+// comparison purposes.
+func NewToken (kind TokenKind, value any) (token Token) {
+	token.kind = kind
+	token.value = value
+	return
+}
+
 // Kind returns the semantic role of the token.
 func (token Token) Kind () (kind TokenKind) {
 	return token.kind
diff --git a/parser/phrase.go b/parser/phrase.go
index 66fb40d..9e8c38d 100644
--- a/parser/phrase.go
+++ b/parser/phrase.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import "git.tebibyte.media/arf/arf/lexer"
 // operatorTokens lists all symbolic tokens that can act as a command to a
 // phrase.
 var operatorTokens = []lexer.TokenKind {
+        lexer.TokenKindColon,
         lexer.TokenKindPlus,
         lexer.TokenKindMinus,
         lexer.TokenKindIncrement,
@@ -213,22 +214,33 @@ func (parser *ParsingOperation) parseBlockLevelPhrase (
 	err = parser.nextToken()
 	if err != nil { return }
 
-	// if this is a control flow statement, parse 
-	if phrase.command.kind != ArgumentKindIdentifier { return }
-	command := phrase.command.value.(Identifier)
-	if len(command.trail) != 1 { return }
-
-	isControlFlow := false
-	for _, name := range controlFlowNames {
-		if command.trail[0] == name {
-			isControlFlow = true
-			break
+	// if this is a control flow statement, parse block under it
+	if phrase.command.kind == ArgumentKindIdentifier {
+		// perhaps it is a normal control flow statement?
+		command := phrase.command.value.(Identifier)
+		if len(command.trail) != 1 { return }
+		
+		isControlFlow := false
+		for _, name := range controlFlowNames {
+			if command.trail[0] == name {
+				isControlFlow = true
+				break
+			}
 		}
+
+		if !isControlFlow { return }
+		
+	} else if phrase.command.kind == ArgumentKindOperator {
+		// perhaps it is a switch case?
+		command := phrase.command.value.(lexer.TokenKind)
+		if command != lexer.TokenKindColon { return }
+	
+	} else {
+		return
 	}
 
-	if isControlFlow {
-		phrase.block, err = parser.parseBlock(indent + 1)
-	}
+	// if it is any of those, parse the block under it
+	phrase.block, err = parser.parseBlock(indent + 1)
 
 	return
 }
diff --git a/parser/tree-tostring.go b/parser/tree-tostring.go
index 393320e..a4443d9 100644
--- a/parser/tree-tostring.go
+++ b/parser/tree-tostring.go
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ func (argument *Argument) ToString (indent int, breakLine bool) (output string)
 	case ArgumentKindOperator:
 		var stringValue string
 		switch argument.value.(lexer.TokenKind) {
+	        case lexer.TokenKindColon:
+	        	stringValue = ":"
 	        case lexer.TokenKindPlus:
 	        	stringValue = "+"
 	        case lexer.TokenKindMinus:
diff --git a/tests/parser/func/main.arf b/tests/parser/func/main.arf
index dd44b76..262644c 100644
--- a/tests/parser/func/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/func/main.arf
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func ro gControlFlow
 		else
 			otherThing
 
-func hSetPhrase
+func ro hSetPhrase
 	---
 	set x:Int 3
 	# TODO: this should be the "location of" phrase. update other things to