my $s = "123  carrots   45 6  bananas 789";
while (1) {
  $s =~ /\G(\d+)/gc and print "NUMBER $1\n" and next;
  $s =~ /\G\s+/gc and print "SPACE\n" and next;
  $s =~ /\G([a-z]+)/gc and print "WORD $1\n" and next;
  $s =~ /\G$/gc and last;
}