( ( ( ( ( ( ( Air , ) fire ) , ) water ) and ) earth ) ( ( were ( ( identified ( by ( the Greeks ) ) ) ( as ( the ( basic ( ( substances or ) elements ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Air)) (, ,) (NP (NN fire)) (, ,) (NP (NN water)) (CC and) (NP (NN earth))) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBN identified) (PP (IN by) (NP (DT the) (NNPS Greeks))) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT the) (JJ basic) (NNS substances) (CC or) (NNS elements))))) (. .)))
Air, fire, water and earth were identified by the Greeks as the basic substances or elements.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Air)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN separated) (PP (IN into) (NP (JJ several) (NNS elements)))))) (. .)))