Final answer:
Length, mass, and time are the three basic quantities directly measured with the SI units meter, kilogram, and second, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three basic quantities that may be directly measured are length, mass, and time. These fundamental physical quantities have corresponding SI units, which are meter (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, and second (s) for time. These units are considered fundamental because they are not defined by other quantities and they form the basis upon which many other physical quantities are derived. For example, speed is derived from length divided by time. The importance of these fundamental units is that they provide a uniform and consistent framework for expressing and comparing physical quantities across different disciplines and applications.