有人曾经认为铅可以变成黄金。

It was once thought that lead could be transmuted into gold.

人们曾经认为太阳绕着地球转。

It was once thought that the sun travelled around the earth.

曾经时兴把牛仔裤磨毛。

It was fashionable to fray the bottoms of your jeans.

曾经有个时期，罪犯可以被判服劳役刑。

Criminals could at one time be sentenced to penal servitude.

政治曾经是有产阶级的特权。

Politics used to be the perquisite of the property-owning classes.

教堂的尖塔曾经是此地景观的重要特色。

The church tower was a prominent feature in the landscape.

曾经有过加深一段河道的计划。

There were plans to deepen a stretch of the river.

他们的每一张激光唱片都曾经非常流行。

Every one of their CDs has been a hit.

她曾经悉心思考她未来的计划。

She has thought very hard about her future plans.