What is a Main Clause Definition and Examples in English Grammar

For a sentence to be complete, rather than a fragment, it must include a main clause. In English grammar, a main clause (also known as in independent clause, superordinate clause, or base clause) is a group of words made up of a subject and a predicate that together express a complete concept. To write sentences effectively, a writer must decide which information to include in the main clause and which to relegate to dependent clauses. The basic rule of thumb is to make sure the most important information goes into the main clause, while information that ties things together by providing description and nuance gets placed in a dependent clause. Examples and Observations In sentence structure, the simple subject is the who, what, or where that comprises the main focus of the sentence. The predicate is the part of the sentence (the verb) that shows the action. For example, in the sentence, The angry bear howled ominously, the word bear is the simple subject and the predicate is howled so the main clause of the sentence would be, The bear howled. In The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics, P.H. Matthews defined a main clause as [a] clause which bears no relation, or no relation other than coordination, to any other or larger clause. Unlike a dependent or subordinate clause, a main clause can stand alone as a sentence, while two or more main clauses can be joined with a coordinating conjunction (such as and) to create a compound sentence. In the following examples, notice the main clause does not necessarily include modifying words. While Fern was in school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard.—From Charlottes Web by E.B. White. Main clause: Wilbur was shut up Since Fern was in school is modified by the word while which is a subordinate conjunction, While Fern was in school is a subordinate clause, rather than a main clause. Dinner always took a long time, because Antonapoulos loved food and he was very slow.—From The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers Main clause: Dinner took a long time Since its modified by the word because, another subordinate conjunction, because Antonapoulos loved food and he was very slow is a subordinate clause. I learned to type when I was 12 years old. When I finished the class my father bought me a Royal portable typewriter.—From The Writing Life, by Ellen Gilchrist Main clauses: I learned to typemy father bought a typewriter Since when I was 12 years old and When I finished the class are modified by when, yet another subordinate conjunction, they are both subordinate clauses. My father bought a typewriter is the main thought in the second sentence so its the main clause. Yes, he can do that until his crops fail one day and he has to borrow money from the bank.—From The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck Main clauses: he can do thathe has to borrow money Since these two clauses are joined by the conjunction and, they are both main clauses. Sources Matthews, P. H. Main Clause, cited from The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics. Oxford University Press, 1997