C:\>perl -e "@a=1..5; print 0+( @a );" 5 C:\>perl -e "@a=1..5; print --( @a);" Can't modify array dereference in predecrement (--) at -e line 1, near ");" Execution of -e aborted due to compilation errors. C:\>perl -MO=Concise -e "print --( () = /;/g );" a <@> leave[1 ref] vKP/REFC ->(end) 1 <0> enter ->2 2 <;> nextstate(main 1 -e:1) v:{ ->3 9 <@> print vK ->a 3 <0> pushmark s ->4 8 <1> predec sK/1 ->9 7 <2> aassign[t1] sKPRMS ->8 - <1> ex-list lK ->6 4 <0> pushmark s ->5 5 match(/";"/) l/RTIME ->6 - <1> ex-list lK ->7 6 <0> pushmark s ->7 - <0> stub lPRM* ->- -e syntax OK