( ( In ( ancient times ) ) ( , ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( earth , ) air ) , ) fire ) , ) and ) water ) ( ( were ( separate substances ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (JJ ancient) (NNS times))) (, ,) (NP (NP (NN earth)) (, ,) (NP (NN air)) (, ,) (NP (NN fire)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (NN water))) (VP (VBD were) (NP (JJ separate) (NNS substances))) (. .)))
In ancient times, earth, air, fire, and water were separate substances.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Air)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN separated) (PP (IN into) (NP (JJ several) (NNS elements)))))) (. .)))