there was
Something had been
There was introduces the existence or occurrence of something in the past: There was a time when this was all farmland, There was nothing I could do.
It sets up singular nouns; there were handles plurals.
The construction places emphasis on what existed rather than where: There was a problem with the order.
In storytelling, it opens narratives: There was once a king who had three daughters.
- existedHad being previously
- happenedCame into being
- occurredTook place in time
- transpiredCame to pass
- onceAt one time
emerged · took place · formerly · once upon a time · previously · materialized · are · appeared · used to be · past tense · in the past · arose · fairy tale · long ago · in those days · back when · being · remained