Definition of a main clause

Introduction

Main clause

 

 

A main clause (or independent clause) contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

 

Examples

Jenny was a teacher.

She lived in London.

 

            These are both main clauses and also sentences.

 

Jenny was a teacher and she lived in London.

 

Two main clauses linked by the conjunction 'and'.

 

 

 

A main clause is not dependent on any other clause within a sentence.

 

When Jenny was a teacher...

 

This is no longer a complete thought as we do not know what happened when Jenny was a teacher. It is not an independent clause.

 

 

 

Every sentence must contain at least one main clause.

 

.

When Jenny was a teacher, she lived in London.

            [time adverbial clause and main clause]

Jenny, who was a teacher, lived in London.

            [main clause and embedded relative clause]

Jenny could be a head teacher if she lived in London.

            [main clause and conditional clause]