Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
Advanced concession clauses admit one fact and then push on despite it. Use much as + clause for 'although very much', however + adjective + subject + verb for 'no matter how', and whatever, whoever or no matter what to mean it makes no difference.
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Level: C1. You already link contrasts with although and however. This lesson adds the formal concession structures that top-level writing and speech rely on — much as, however + adjective, the -ever words, no matter, and fronted patterns like try as he might.
The rule
A concession admits that one thing is true and then says the main point holds anyway: it rained, but we still went out. A concessive clause is the part that makes the admission. At C1 the useful moves are no longer single linkers but whole patterns, each with its own word order.
Much as opens a clause and means although very much or however much. It is an emphatic, formal way to grant a feeling before you overrule it: Much as I admire her, I cannot agree. Keep the as — much alone is wrong.
However, wherever, whatever, whoever, whenever and whichever (the -ever words) introduce a clause meaning it makes no difference which / how / who. With however you add an adjective or adverb straight after it, then the normal subject + verb: However hard you try …, However expensive it is …. The others take a noun or a clause: Whatever you decide …, Whoever wins ….
No matter + a question word (how, what, who, when, where, which) means the same as the -ever words and is a little more informal: No matter how tired you are … = However tired you are …. Finally, English can front an adjective, adverb or bare verb before as or though for a literary concession: Hard as it was …, Cold though it was …, Try as he might …. Here as/though means although, and the stressed word jumps to the front.
Forms
| Pattern | What follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| much as | subject + verb (a feeling) | Much as I like it, I won’t buy it. |
| however + adj/adv | adjective/adverb + subject + verb | However hard you try, it fails. |
| whatever / whoever / wherever | noun or clause | Whatever you say, I agree. |
| no matter + how/what/who | question word + clause | No matter what happens, stay calm. |
| adj/adv + as/though | fronted word + as/though + clause | Cold though it was, we walked. |
| verb + as + subject + might | fronted verb + as + subject + might | Try as he might, he failed. |
Example sentences
- Much as I admire her courage, I cannot support the plan.much as = although very much; a formal, emphatic concession.
- Much as he wanted the job, he turned down the offer.much as + clause stating a strong wish, then the opposite result.
- However hard you try, you cannot please everyone.however + adjective (hard) + subject + verb (you try).
- However carefully she drove, the road still felt dangerous.however + adverb (carefully); normal word order after it.
- However expensive the repair is, we have to pay for it.however + adjective describing the subject; the verb comes last.
- Whatever you decide tonight, I will support you.whatever + clause: it makes no difference what you choose.
- Whatever happens, keep calm and carry on.a fixed whatever-clause meaning in any case.
- Whoever wins the election, little will change overnight.whoever + clause: the result is the same either way.
- Whichever route we take, the drive will be long.whichever + noun, choosing from a known set.
- Wherever you go in this city, you hear music.wherever + clause: in every place, no exception.
- Whenever he calls, she is somehow too busy to talk.whenever = every time / no matter when.
- No matter how tired you are, finish the report tonight.no matter how + adjective; same meaning as however tired.
- No matter what they say, the decision stands.no matter what + clause, a touch more informal than whatever.
- No matter who asks, the answer is still no.no matter who + clause.
- Hard as it was to admit, I had clearly made a mistake.fronted adjective + as (= although) for a literary concession.
- Cold though it was, the children played outside for hours.fronted adjective + though; though here means although.
- Try as he might, he could not solve the puzzle.fronted verb + as + subject + might: however hard he tried.
- Strange as it may seem, nobody noticed the error.a fixed concessive pattern common in formal writing.
- Much as we would like to help, our budget is already fixed.much as in careful, written register.
- However you look at it, the result is the same.however + clause (in whatever way) with no adjective.
- Be that as it may, the deadline will not move.a fixed phrase meaning even so / nevertheless.
Common mistakes
- ❌ However you try hard, you cannot win. → ✅ However hard you try, you cannot win. The adjective or adverb goes straight after however, not later in the sentence.
- ❌ Much I would like to help, I cannot. → ✅ Much as I would like to help, I cannot. Keep the as; much on its own does not start this clause.
- ❌ Whatever happens, but stay calm. → ✅ Whatever happens, stay calm. Do not add but or so; the concession is already built into whatever.
- ❌ No matter how it is difficult, keep going. → ✅ No matter how difficult it is, keep going. The adjective follows how at once: how difficult, then the subject and verb.
- ❌ However hard is the test, you will pass. → ✅ However hard the test is, you will pass. Use normal order (subject + verb), not question order.
- ❌ Try as he might to, he failed. → ✅ Try as he might, he failed. Nothing follows might; the verb was already fronted.
A short conversation
A: You turned the contract down? I thought you wanted it. B: Much as I wanted it, the terms were impossible. A: Fair enough. However good the pay is, the hours matter too. B: Exactly. And try as they might, they couldn’t improve the schedule.
Usage notes
- Register. These structures are formal and often literary. In everyday speech people still say even though, but and no matter how. Save much as, try as he might and strange as it may seem for careful writing, presentations and set phrases.
- Inversion with as/though. In Cold as it was and Try as he might, the fronted word sits before as/though, and as/though means although. This is the one place as carries a concessive, not a time or reason, meaning.
- Subjunctive tail. After the -ever words you sometimes meet a formal may: Whatever the reason may be, …; However hard it may seem, …. It softens the clause and is optional.
- Fixed phrases. Be that as it may (= nevertheless) and come what may (= whatever happens) are frozen expressions; learn them whole and do not change the word order.
Compared with…
- Advanced contrast linkers (despite, in spite of, however, whereas) join a contrast with prepositions, conjunctions and linking adverbs, each controlled by what follows it. Concession clauses do the same job but front a stressed word (however hard, much as) and build the contrast into one pattern. See Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however.
- The mandative subjunctive turns up in the formal tails above (whatever the cost be, come what may). If you want the base-form verb after demand, insist and set phrases, see The Mandative Subjunctive (insist that he be).
Quick recap before you practise.
Practice
Advanced concession practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
Hint: much ___ I like
Show answer
as — The pattern is much as + clause; keep the as.
4 Put the words in order to make a concession clause.
Show answer
Try as he might, he failed. — The verb is fronted: Try as he might, then the result with no joining word.
5 Match each opener to what must follow it.
- much as
- however
- no matter
- try as
Show answer
- much as → a subject and verb (a feeling)
- however → an adjective or adverb, then subject + verb
- no matter → a question word (how/what/who)
- try as → a subject + might
Each concession pattern controls the words that come after it.
Hint: no matter ___ happens
Show answer
what — No matter what = whatever; it makes no difference what happens.
Quiz
Advanced concession quiz
12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
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Show answer
Much as — Much as + clause = although very much; keep the as.
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However fast he ran, he missed the train. — The adverb follows however, then subject + verb: However fast he ran.
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No matter how hard it is, keep going. — The adjective follows how at once (how hard), then subject + verb (it is).
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though — A fronted adjective + though means although: Cold though it was.
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Whatever happens, but stay calm. — Do not add but; whatever already carries the concession.
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Whichever route — Whichever + noun chooses from a set: Whichever route you take.
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However hard he tried. — Try as he might = no matter how hard he tried; a fronted, formal concession.
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The plan failed. However, we learned a lot. — Here however starts a new sentence and means but; the others introduce a concessive clause.
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Whatever — Whatever + noun (the reason) + may be is a formal concessive clause.
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Even though I tried hard, I can't fix it. — Even though + clause is the plain spoken version; the others are formal or literary.
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who — No matter who = whoever; it makes no difference which person asks.
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Much as I like him, I won't lend him money. — Much as = although very much, the exact sense here.
Recap cheat-sheet
| Pattern | Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| much as + clause | although very much | Much as I like it, I’ll pass. |
| however + adj/adv | no matter how | However hard you try… |
| whatever / whoever | it makes no difference | Whatever you choose… |
| no matter + how/what | the same as -ever words | No matter what happens… |
| adj/verb + as/though | fronted, formal concession | Cold though it was; Try as he might |
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A1 30 topics · 30 ready
- 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
- 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
- 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
- 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
- 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
- 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
- 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
- 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
- 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
- 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
- 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
- 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
- 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
- 14 Can and Can't for Ability
- 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
- 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
- 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
- 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
- 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
- 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
- 21 How Much vs How Many
- 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
- 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
- 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
- 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
- 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
- 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
- 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
- 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
- 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
- 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
- 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
- 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
- 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
- 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
- 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
- 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
- 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
- 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
- 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
- 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
- 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
- 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
- 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
- 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
- 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
- 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
- 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
- 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
- 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
- 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
- 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
- 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
- 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
- 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
- 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
- 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
- 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
- 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
- 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
- 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)
- 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
- 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
- 64 Reported Questions
- 65 Reported Commands and Requests
- 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
- 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
- 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
- 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
- 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
- 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
- 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
- 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
- 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
- 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
- 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
- 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
- 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
- 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
- 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
- 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
- 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
- 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
- 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
- 85 Mixed Conditionals
- 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
- 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
- 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
- 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
- 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
- 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
- 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
- 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
- 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
- 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
- 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
- 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
- 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
- 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
- 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
- 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
- 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
- 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
- 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
- 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
- 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
- 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
- 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
- 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
- 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
- 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
- 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
- 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
- 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
- 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
- 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
- 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
- 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
- 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
- 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
- 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
- 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
- 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
- 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj) You are here
- 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)