The words "are," "there," "were," "once," "they," "are," and "did" each have distinct grammatical functions and usages in English:
- "Are" is the present tense form of the verb "to be" used with plural subjects and "you."
- "There" is used as a pronoun or adverb to indicate existence or location.
- "Were" is the past tense form of "to be" used with plural subjects and "you" in past tense.
- "Once" is an adverb meaning "one time" or "formerly," often used in storytelling or to refer to past events.
- "They" is a plural pronoun referring to people, animals, or things previously mentioned.
- "Did" is the past tense auxiliary and action verb used to indicate completed actions in the past.
The phrase "there were once" is grammatically correct and commonly used as an introduction to a story or anecdote to describe something that existed in the past. For example, "There were once two friends who decided to go on a journey together" sets up a narrative by referencing past existence.
"Did" is used to talk about completed actions in the past, often accompanied by time markers (e.g., yesterday, last week). It forms the past simple tense of verbs, whether regular (added -ed) or irregular.
Thus, these words serve as fundamental building blocks in English grammar for speaking about existence, time, actions, and subjects. If more detailed explanations or examples about any specific word or phrase usage are needed, further information can be provided.
