[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"grammar-page-en-concession-with-whatever-no-matter-and-as":3,"grammar-exercises-by-page-01a0e1ab-d594-7dd6-9ff4-94959247d273":23,"exercise-list-path-en-none":44},{"id":4,"title":5,"slug":6,"seoDescription":7,"content":8,"language":9,"level":10,"displayOrder":11,"grammarTopics":12,"createdAt":19,"updatedAt":20,"vocabularyLists":21,"readyImages":22},"01a0e1ab-d594-7dd6-9ff4-94959247d273","Concession with Whatever, No Matter and As","concession-with-whatever-no-matter-and-as","Use whatever, no matter and concessive as to show that circumstances do not change an outcome, with precise word order and appropriate register.","Concessive clauses present a difficulty or objection without allowing it to change the main conclusion. **Whatever** and **no matter** can dismiss a whole range of possibilities; concessive **as** typically acknowledges a fact while rejecting the result we might expect from it. Choosing between them involves meaning, word order and register.\n\n## 1. Two ways to express concession\n\nCompare these sentences:\n\n:::example\n**Whatever objections they raise, we will proceed.**\n\nTheir objections may vary, but none will change our decision.\n\n**Serious as their objections are, we will proceed.**\n\nTheir objections are serious, but we will proceed despite that fact.\n:::\n\nThe first construction leaves the circumstances open: *regardless of what happens*. The second usually accepts a particular circumstance: *although this is true*.\n\nThese clauses can come before or after the main clause. An opening concessive clause normally takes a comma. A final clause often takes a comma when it adds a separate contrast, but may appear without one when it is closely integrated into the main statement.\n\n## 2. Whatever and related forms\n\nUse **whatever** when the identity or nature of something makes no difference to the outcome. Related forms express the same relationship for people, choices, places, times and degrees.\n\n| Form | What does not affect the outcome | Example |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| **whatever** | A thing, event or action | **Whatever happens**, the agreement remains valid. |\n| **whatever + noun** | Any instance of that thing | **Whatever explanation she offers**, I will still request an investigation. |\n| **whoever** | A person's identity | **Whoever chairs the meeting**, the agenda will remain unchanged. |\n| **whichever + noun** | A choice from a particular set | **Whichever route we take**, we will need a permit. |\n| **wherever** | A place | **Wherever the team works**, the same safety rules apply. |\n| **whenever** | A time | **Whenever you arrive**, someone will be there to welcome you. |\n| **however + adjective\u002Fadverb** | A degree | **However carefully we plan**, delays remain possible. |\n\nAfter **however**, put the adjective or adverb before the subject and verb:\n\n- **However difficult the task is**, we must complete it.\n- **However hard she tries**, she cannot satisfy everyone.\n- **However many people object**, the decision will stand.\n- **However much evidence we provide**, he remains unconvinced.\n\n:::note\nConcessive **however** means *no matter how*. It differs from the linking adverb in “The task is difficult. **However,** we must complete it.” Do not insert a comma immediately after **however** in “However difficult the task is, …”.\n:::\n\n## 3. No matter plus a question word\n\n**No matter** makes the idea of *regardless of the circumstances* explicit. Follow it with **what, who, which, where, when** or **how**.\n\n:::example\n**Whatever they decide**, we will support them.\n\n**No matter what they decide**, we will support them.\n\n**However expensive the repairs are**, we cannot postpone them.\n\n**No matter how expensive the repairs are**, we cannot postpone them.\n:::\n\nThese pairs have essentially the same meaning. Both patterns occur in speech and writing; **no matter** can sound particularly emphatic.\n\nUse statement word order, not question word order:\n\n- ✓ **No matter where she goes**, she attracts attention.\n- ✗ No matter where does she go, she attracts attention.\n\nWhen the question word is the subject, no additional subject is needed: **No matter who calls, do not interrupt the interview.**\n\nFor ordinary future circumstances, a present form is usual: **Whatever happens tomorrow, we will cope.** A modal is also possible when it adds meaning: **Whatever may happen, we are prepared.**\n\n:::warning\nThe equivalence with **no matter what** applies to concessive clauses, not every use of **whatever**.\n\nIn “Take **whatever you need**”, the highlighted words identify what to take. You cannot replace them with “no matter what you need”.\n:::\n\n## 4. Concessive as: front the key expression\n\nConcessive **as** requires a special order: place the expression carrying the contrast before **as**, followed by the subject and verb. This pattern is more characteristic of formal or literary writing than ordinary conversation.\n\n| Fronted expression | Pattern | Example |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Adjective | adjective + **as** + subject + verb | **Unlikely as it seems**, the account is true. |\n| Adverb | adverb + **as** + subject + verb | **Carefully as she checked the figures**, she missed an error. |\n| Singular count noun | noun without an article + **as** + subject + verb | **Novice as he was**, he spotted the flaw immediately. |\n| **Much** | **much as** + subject + verb | **Much as I admire her work**, I disagree with her conclusion. |\n\nThe fronted expression does not normally cause subject–verb inversion: **Unlikely as it seems**, not *Unlikely as seems it*.\n\nIn the singular noun pattern, omit the indefinite article: **Novice as he was**, not *A novice as he was*. This noun construction is particularly literary.\n\n**Much as** commonly acknowledges a strong feeling before introducing a conflicting view or necessity: **Much as we would like to help, we lack the resources.**\n\n:::tip\nIf the fronted construction feels too formal, use **although** with ordinary word order: “Although he was a novice, he spotted the flaw immediately.” **Though** can also follow the fronted expression: “Unlikely though it seems, the account is true.” **Although** cannot occupy that position.\n:::\n\n## 5. Try as I might and important contrasts\n\nA verb can also be fronted in certain concessive patterns. The familiar expression **try as + subject + might** presents determined but unsuccessful effort.\n\n:::example\n**Try as I might, I could not remember her name.**\n\nDespite trying hard, I was unable to remember it.\n\n**Try as she might, she could not open the window.**\n\nThe form **try** stays unchanged even with **she**.\n:::\n\nTreat this as a recognisable emphatic pattern, not an invitation to move any verb before **as**.\n\nBe careful with two further contrasts:\n\n- **As she was tired, she stopped working.** Here, **as** gives a reason: she stopped *because* she was tired.\n- **Tired as she was, she continued working.** Here, the fronted adjective makes the concessive meaning clear: she continued *although* she was tired.\n\n:::warning\nDo not add **but** to connect the main clause after an opening concessive clause.\n\n✓ **Whatever happens, we will continue.**\n\n✗ Whatever happens, but we will continue.\n\n**Still** is possible because it reinforces the unexpected result rather than joining the clauses: **Tired as she was, she still continued working.**\n:::\n\n## 6. Choose the right construction\n\n1. **Does the outcome remain the same across different possibilities?** Use **whatever**, a related *-ever* form, or **no matter + question word**.\n2. **Are you acknowledging a fact but rejecting its expected consequence?** Consider fronted concessive **as**, especially in formal writing.\n3. **Check the order.** Use **however difficult it is**, **no matter where she goes**, and **difficult as it is**.\n4. **Check the register and connection.** Prefer **although** for a more neutral alternative to concessive **as**, and do not add a linking **but**.","en","C1",97.07,[13],{"id":14,"name":15,"level":10,"language":9,"isCompleted":16,"completionPercentage":17,"totalExercises":18,"completedExercises":17},"01a0e1ab-d4fb-70df-bfab-603e7b9c57a0","Advanced concessive clauses",false,0,2,"2026-09-27T07:02:10+00:00","2026-10-14T10:40:29+00:00",[],[],[24,35],{"@id":25,"@type":26,"id":27,"grammarPage":28,"title":29,"instructions":30,"displayOrder":17,"type":31,"questionCount":32,"blankCount":33,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":34},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-d816-7efd-bb7c-b038962f478e","GrammarExercise","01a0e1ab-d816-7efd-bb7c-b038962f478e","\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_pages\u002F01a0e1ab-d594-7dd6-9ff4-94959247d273","Concession with Whatever, No Matter and As — Forms in Context","Choose the option that completes each sentence in context. Some questions have two gaps.","word_select",15,18,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_6bd91d83-28b7-4f90-a90b-00abf4c4ce65_hero.webp?v=1790492530",{"@id":36,"@type":26,"id":37,"grammarPage":28,"title":38,"instructions":39,"displayOrder":40,"type":41,"questionCount":42,"blankCount":42,"isCompleted":16,"ogImageUrl":43},"\u002Fapi\u002Fgrammar_exercises\u002F01a0e1ab-d834-7c92-a764-81a3802a50cc","01a0e1ab-d834-7c92-a764-81a3802a50cc","Concession with Whatever, No Matter and As — Build the Sentences","Arrange the word tiles to build a concessive sentence. Leave out the extra word.",1,"sentence_builder",12,"\u002Fuploads\u002Fimages\u002Fgpimg_160eaaf0-9787-4f14-954d-3847f7b8d83f_hero.webp?v=1790492530",null]