principal clause

American  

noun

1. the main clause.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

principal clause

So, in every conditional sentence, the prot'asis, or condition, differs considerably from the apod'osis, or principal clause, even where both are expressed as facts.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Brown, Goold

Should the time be important a subordinate when or while clause may precede the principal clause of the sentence; i.e.,

From Newspaper Reporting and Correspondence A Manual for Reporters, Correspondents, and Students of Newspaper Writing by Hyde, Grant Milnor

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

It usually has an introductory word to distinguish it from a principal clause.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

Strictly speaking, there is here no principal clause, for the whole sentence cannot be called a clause, i.e., a part of a sentence.

From Higher Lessons in English A work on English grammar and composition by Kellogg, Brainerd