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 many whimsical variants.
( There ( ( were ( many ( whimsical variants ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBD were) (NP (JJ many) (JJ whimsical) (NNS variants))) (. .)))