fundamental, primary, preliminary, elementary, basic

[Rebecca]

What is the difference between fundamental, primary, preliminary, elementary and basic?

[Alan]

Hi,

Do you have any idea of the differences yourself? Perhaps it would be a good idea if you combined these adjectives with nouns and then I could see how you understand them - like this:

'a fundamental difference'
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English as a Second Language
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[Rebecca]

Sorry for the inconvenience :)
i have a situation like this:
'He made some "preliminary" sketches which would serve as guide when he painted the actual portrait'
And i really don't understand why don't we use 'primary', 'fundamental', or 'elementary' instead?
As I know, we can use 'preliminary' with 'plan', 'activity'.
Can you list some nouns that are accompanied by 'preliminary' ?
thanks

[Alan]

Hi Rebecca,

'Preliminary' suggests that something is in its first stages and will be developed later. If you want to take up a new career, you could take preliminary steps in order to get your qualifications. You can also speak about 'preliminary stages' when you are talking about planning to build a new house. 'Preliminary discussions' are held by senior staff of two countries when the leaders are going to meet later on an official visit.

'Primary' is often used to mean 'the most important' as in: Primary consideration is always given when it's a question of public safety.

'Fundamental' means at the base of or basic. There is a fundamental difference in the way the two political leaders behave. This means 'deep rooted'.

'Elementary' suggests at the lowest/simplest level as in: Students who have no knowledge of the language they want to learn are put into an elementary class.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms