Meaning: This means the families came together in one place for a meal eaten outdoors.
Choice of Words: Gathered means to come together in one place. Families are groups of people related by blood or marriage. Picnic is a meal eaten outdoors.
Alternative Expressions
The families had a picnic together.
Meaning: This means that the families got together to eat a meal outside. It's like saying, The families gathered in the park to share a meal.
Choice of Words:The specifies the particular families being discussed. Had indicates that the families participated in the action of having a picnic. Together means that the families were all present and participating in the picnic at the same time. When you put them together, "The families had a picnic together" means that the specific families mentioned came together for an outdoor meal.
There was a family picnic.
Meaning: This means that there was a single event where a family got together to eat outside. It's like saying, The family had a meal in the park.
Choice of Words:There indicates the existence of something. Was is a verb that describes a past event. A is an indefinite article that indicates one instance of something. Family refers to a group of related people. Picnic refers to an outdoor meal. When you put them together, "There was a family picnic" means that there was one instance of a group of related people having an outdoor meal.