Identify the principal or main clause in the following sentence:
The boy ate the apple but his mother would not eat
A. The boy
B. Ate the apple
C. The boy ate the apple
D. His mother would not eat

Hint: A main clause or an independent clause is a part of the sentence that has a subject, a predicate, and has a finite verb. It has a meaning in itself even if it is separated from the sentence.

Complete step by step answer:
Option A – This option has just the subject in it and nothing else, so this is not the right option.
Option B – This option indicates the action of an apple being eaten and it does not qualify to be an independent clause.
Option C – The boy ate the apple has a subject, a predicate, and a finite verb in it. If this clause is separated from the sentence, it stands to have a meaning of its own. This is the right option.
Option D – This option does not have sufficient information and it also has a non-finite verb, which makes it more of a subordinate clause than a main clause, hence this is not the right option.

Thus, the correct option is C.

Note:
Main clauses can be fragmented and can be used as a single sentence. These sentences that have one subject, one predicate, and one finite verb in them are also known as simple sentences.