Main clause - Hoofdzin

A main clause is a sentence which contains at least a subject and a finite verb. The finite verb takes the second place in the clause if it is a declarative sentence, and the first place if it is yes/no-question.

Ik studeer Nederlands.
I study Dutch.

Studeer je in Hull?
Do you study in Hull?

It is possible to combine two main clauses by means of a co-ordinating conjunction.

Ik kom uit Colchester in Engeland, maar ik studeer in Hull.
I am from Colchester in England but I study in Hull.

Any main clause can be used as an independent unit. In other words, the example sentence above can be split into two, omitting the conjunction, and you are left with two grammatically correct sentences. This is not the case with subordinate clauses.