principal clause
Americannoun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It usually has an introductory word to distinguish it from a principal clause.
From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose
In dependent clauses which are introduced by that, expressed or understood, the auxiliary should be used which would be proper if the dependent clause were a principal clause.
From Practical Grammar and Composition by Wood, Thomas
The independent part of the sentence is called a principal clause, and the dependent part is called a subordinate clause.
From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose
How could a predicate become associated with its subject, or a principal clause with its subordinate clause, if they were in separate consciousnesses, and how could the conclusion be drawn from them?
From Naturalism And Religion by Otto, Rudolf
A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement depending upon or modifying some word in the principal clause.
From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
