General:
* Fundamental: "This experiment explores the fundamental principles of physics."
* Elementary: "The lab covers elementary concepts in chemistry."
* Foundational: "These are the foundational concepts in biology."
Focus on simplicity:
* Simple: "We'll start with a simple experiment."
* Rudimentary: "He has only a rudimentary understanding of chemistry."
* Beginner: "This textbook is for beginner students."
Focus on necessity:
* Essential: "It's essential to understand this concept."
* Core: "These are the core principles of physics."
* Key: "This is a key element of the scientific method."
Focus on building blocks:
* Building block: "The atom is the building block of all matter."
* Foundation: "This research builds upon the foundation of previous studies."
Focus on lack of complexity:
* Simple: "A simple experiment can still be valuable."
* Straightforward: "This explanation is straightforward and easy to understand."
* Elementary: "The experiment uses elementary methods."
To choose the best synonym, consider what aspect of "basic" you want to emphasize.