objective c - Match first word of a phrase in a String -

i using gtmregex class google toolbox mac (in cocoa / objective-c) app:

http://code.google.com/p/google-toolbox-for-mac/

i need match , replace of 3 word phrase in string. know 2nd , 3rd words of phrase, first word unknown.

so, if had:

lorem biff bam boo ipsem

and

lorem beep bam boo ipsem

i watch match both (beep bam boo) , (biff bam boo). want wrap them in bold html tags.

here have:

gtmregex *requiredheroregex = [gtmregex regexwithpattern:@"(\\([a-z][a-z0-9]*)\\b hero required)" options:kgtmregexoptionsupressnewlinesupport|kgtmregexoptionignorecase]; out = [requiredheroregex stringbyreplacingmatchesinstring:out withreplacement:@"<b>\\1</b>"]; 

however, not working. basically, cant figure out how match first word when dont know it.

anyone know regex this?

update:

gtregex uses posix 1003.2 regular expresions, solution is:

gtmregex *requiredheroregex = [gtmregex regexwithpattern:@"([[:<:]][a-z][a-z0-9]*[[:>:]])( hero required)" options:kgtmregexoptionsupressnewlinesupport|kgtmregexoptionignorecase]; out = [requiredheroregex stringbyreplacingmatchesinstring:out withreplacement:@"<b>\\1\\2</b>"]; 

note crazy syntax word boundaries.

update 2 : here javascript version:

/(([a-za-z]*?|[a-za-z]*? [a-za-z]*?)( hero required))/gm 

you should use " .*? hero required", however, not catch phrase if start of sentence. both cases use "( .*? hero required|^.*? hero required)".