Understanding the content is essential to study correctly.
Substantial is a term that comes from the late Latin substantiālis and that refers to that linked to substance . This concept, in turn, has several meanings: it can be about the most transcendent or essential, or the value of something.
The fundamental
The substantial, therefore, can be about the main or the fundamental . For example: “We have several differences in the forms, but the governor and I agree on the substance” , “If you want to pass the exam, it is necessary that you understand the substance of the text to answer the questions correctly” , “It seems to me that the substance of the new law is the increase in penalties for those who do not comply with the established deadlines.”
In this first meaning we must understand that there is nothing more important than the substantial, which is the key, the crucial element. Let's look at the three examples in detail to better understand their meaning. In the first, the issuer states that the governor and he do not agree on everything, but they do agree on the fundamentals. A relationship with these characteristics is better than one in which the opposite situation occurs: two people in favor of freedom but with different literary tastes form a much better couple than the opposite one.
The second sentence talks about the need to understand the fundamental part of a text to successfully pass an exam. This is true as long as the questions aim at reflection on the topic and not at mere memorization of the content. Finally, the issuer gives his opinion about a recently approved law, pointing out what he believes is the substantial point, the most relevant, so that the others do not cause such a shocking change.
important factor
Another use of substantial refers to an important, intense or valuable thing or factor: “The government announced a substantial drop in revenue due to the economic crisis affecting the nation,” “In my opinion the team needs a change.” substantial, the coach cannot continue with the same recipe that already gave him terrible results” , “I had to make a substantial effort to reach the top of the mountain and plant the flag” .
In this case, unlike the previous examples, the nuance of meaning does not point to "the most important thing" but to something that can generate considerable change for the better or worse, depending on the situation. An economic crisis generates various consequences, and one of them may be that citizens stop paying taxes. The poor performance of a sports team, on the other hand, can be largely due to the work of the coach. Climbing a mountain, needless to say, requires considerable effort.
Due to its nutritional value, corn is a substantial food.
Meaty
A substantial or substantial meal , on the other hand, stands out for its nutritional or caloric value : “We have to give grandpa substantial dishes so that he has strength and recovers faster,” “Breakfast should always be substantial since it guarantees us the energy necessary to start daily activities” , “Corn is a substantial food that has nourished our people since ancient times” .
Note that we can find similarities between this meaning and the previous ones, since the nutritional quality of food is one of the most important factors in the development of life. In the first example, the speaker talks about his grandfather's health: both in early childhood and in old age, food must be especially nutritious. The second highlights the importance of a substantial breakfast to have energy in the first part of the day. Finally, corn is mentioned as a substantial food typical of the issuer's town.