Using a list of (string) variables as preg_match result set?

Couldn't find the solution for my problem, not in FAQ, php.net search, Deja or Google. Instead of using an array as preg_match result set, I'd like to use a list of basic string variables. For example: $str="I think this is a stupid example, but it shoud show what I want to know"; preg_match( "/(this) is a (stupid) example/", $str, list($whole,$first,$second) ); ...but it doesn't work. In case you want to know why, it's only because I've used this kind of construct in Perl, and now as I'm possibly switching to PHP, I'd like to make a script that did most of the converting job. In Perl that'd be: ($first,$last)=$str=~/(this) is a (stupid) example/; If you know the answer (even if it's a no-can-do), let me know. Thanks! -Antti Boman