is there a possibility to add some words in front of the time variables "N" of this following TXT flags

TXT_N_MINUTES_AGO=minutes ago

TXT_N_HOURS_AGO=hours ago

TXT_N_DAYS_AGO=days ago

TXT_N_WEEKS_AGO=weeks ago

TXT_N_MONTHS_AGO=months ago

what i mean is something like this (sample for german language)

TXT_N_MINUTES_AGO=some-words-before XX some-words-after

XX should be the time/minutes/hours/years ...

i have seen something like this at the language files from the component "jomsocial". They have a variable like this %1$s.
example from the language EN file of jomsocial:

CC LAPSED YEARS=%1$s years

now it is very easy to translate this flags in to german language.
my jomsocial translated sample:

CC LAPSED YEARS=vor %1$s Jahren

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Problem with year and years:
i have checked the language file (1.5.24) and found only the singular (TXT_YEAR=Year) flag, but no flag for plural years...