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To: python-list@python.org
From: Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: Pattern Search Regular Expression
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:18:10 +0100
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On 15/06/2013 10:42, subhabangalore@gmail.com wrote:
> Dear Group,
>
> I am trying to search the following pattern in Python.
>
> I have following strings:
>
>   (i)"In the ocean"
>   (ii)"On the ocean"
>   (iii) "By the ocean"
>   (iv) "In this group"
>   (v) "In this group"
>   (vi) "By the new group"
>         .....
>
> I want to extract from the first word to the last word,
> where first word and last word are varying.
>
> I am looking to extract out:
>    (i) the
>    (ii) the
>    (iii) the
>    (iv) this
>    (v) this
>    (vi) the new
>        .....
>
> The problem may be handled by converting the string to list and then
> index of list.
>
> But I am thinking if I can use regular expression in Python.
>
> If any one of the esteemed members can help.
>
> Thanking you in Advance,
>
> Regards,
> Subhabrata
>

I tend to reach for string methods rather than an RE so will something 
like this suit you?

c:\Users\Mark\MyPython>type a.py
for s in ("In the ocean",
           "On the ocean",
           "By the ocean",
           "In this group",
           "In this group",
           "By the new group"):
     print(' '.join(s.split()[1:-1]))


c:\Users\Mark\MyPython>a
the
the
the
this
this
the new

-- 
"Steve is going for the pink ball - and for those of you who are 
watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green." Snooker 
commentator 'Whispering' Ted Lowe.

Mark Lawrence