I had a toy train when I was little.

Meaning: This means I owned a toy model of a train when I was young.

Choice of Words: Toy means an object or item made for playing, especially by a child. Train refers to a series of connected vehicles that run along tracks, typically used for transporting people or goods. Together, toy train describes a small-scale model of a train designed for play.

Alternative Expressions

I owned a toy train in my childhood.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that the speaker had a toy train when they were a child. It's like saying, During the time when I was a child, I had a toy that was a train and it was mine.

Choice of Words: I refers to the speaker, the person who is talking. Owned is a past tense verb that means to possess or have something as your property. A is an indefinite article that means one or some. Toy is a noun that refers to an object that is played with, especially by children. Train is a noun that refers to a series of connected vehicles that run on rails. In is a preposition that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. My is a possessive adjective that shows that something belongs to the speaker. Childhood is a noun that refers to the period of time when someone is a child.

When I was a young boy, I had a toy train.

Meaning: This sentence tells us that the speaker had a toy train when they were a young boy. It's like saying, In the past, when I was a male child who was not old, I had a toy that was a train.

Choice of Words: When is a conjunction that introduces a time clause. I refers to the speaker, the person who is talking. Was is a past tense verb that means to exist or to be. A is an indefinite article that means one or some. Young is an adjective that means not old. Boy is a noun that refers to a male child. I refers to the speaker again. Had is a past tense verb that means to possess or own something. A is an indefinite article that means one or some. Toy is a noun that refers to an object that is played with, especially by children. Train is a noun that refers to a series of connected vehicles that run on rails.

Related Expressions