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.
Thus we have the following definitions: A simple sentence contains one principal clause.
From Business English A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig
Department stores of all large cities are acquiring them is also a principal clause.
From Business English A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig
If this clause were placed after its principal clause, would the comma be needed?
From Graded Lessons in English An Elementary English Grammar Consisting of One Hundred Practical Lessons, Carefully Graded and Adapted to the Class-Room by Alonzo Reed
Subordinate infinitives and participles take their time from the verb in the principal clause.
From The Style Book of The Detroit News by The Detroit News
A participle should not stand at the beginning of a sentence or principal clause unless it belongs to the subject of that sentence or clause.
From Practical Grammar and Composition by Thomas Wood
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