There were various whimsical variants.
( There ( ( were ( various ( whimsical variants ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBD were) (NP (JJ various) (JJ whimsical) (NNS variants))) (. .)))
There were no whimsical variants.
( There ( ( were ( no ( whimsical variants ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBD were) (NP (DT no) (JJ whimsical) (NNS variants))) (. .)))