- var_dump: documentation ( source)
- preg_match: documentation ( source)
<?php
if (!preg_match('#((?<year>\d+)\s+year(s)?(,\s+)?)?((?<week>\d+)\s+week(s)?(,\s+)?)?((?<day>\d+)\s+day(s)?(,\s+)?)?((?<hour>\d+)\s+hour(s)?(,\s+)?)?((?<minute>\d+)\s+minute(s)?(,\s+)?)?((?<second>\d+)\s+second(s)?)?#', '21 minutes, 34 seconds', $match)) {
var_dump($match);
}