private function select_string($n) {
        $string = $this->get_plural_forms();
        $string = str_replace('nplurals', "\$total", $string);
        $string = str_replace("n", $n, $string);
        $string = str_replace('plural', "\$plural", $string);

        $total = 0;
        $plural = 0;

        eval("$string");
        if ($plural >= $total) $plural = $total - 1;
        return $plural;
    }