#!/usr/bin/perl -w

$myvar = q{ abc"def"g"hi?"jkl };

# This regex is from merlyn

print "matched <$1>\n" if
$myvar =~ /"            # First quote
            (           # Capture text to $1
             (?:        # Non-backreferencing parentheses
                (?!\?") # not question quote?
                .       # ok to inch along
             )*         # Zero or more
            )           # End capture
          \?"/sx;       # Followed by a question mark and quote

# This regex is from Ovid

print "matched <$1>\n" if 
$myvar =~ /"            # First quote
            (           # Capture text to $1
             (?:        # Non-backreferencing parentheses
               [^?"]    # Not a question mark or parentheses
               |        # or
               \?(?!")  # A question mark not followed by a quote
             )*         # Zero or more
            )           # End Capture
          \?"/sx;       # Followed by a question mark and quote