You’re asking about the phrase structure in Swedish: “var en gång ett träd” translates roughly to “there once was a tree.” Here’s a quick breakdown:
- var = existed/was (imperfect form of “to be” used in storytelling, often translated as “there was” or part of the phrase “det var en gång…” meaning “once upon a time”)
- en gång = once
- ett träd = a tree
Common related phrase:
- Det var en gång ett träd = There was once a tree (a classic opening for folk tales in Swedish)
If you’d like, I can show how this fits into a short fairy-tale opening in Swedish or translate a few example lines.
