What Does "no matter what" Mean?
- Grammatical function: "No matter what" is a concessive connective expression. It indicates that the main clause of a sentence remains true regardless of any obstacles, conditions, or variables mentioned in the dependent clause.
- Typical sentence position: It is highly flexible and can appear in the initial, medial, or final position of a sentence.
- Register: It is generally neutral, making it suitable for both casual conversation and professional journalism, though it may be replaced by more formal structures in strictly academic writing.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: It can function as a standalone adverbial phrase at the end of a sentence or as a conjunction followed by a subject and verb (e.g., "no matter what happens"). It is often followed by a noun phrase or a clause.
- Punctuation rules: When placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is typically followed by a comma to separate the introductory phrase from the main clause. In the final position, a comma is optional but often omitted if the phrase is short.
- Grammatical flexibility: It can start a sentence to emphasize the condition. While it cannot be negated itself (as "no" is already negative), the clause following it can contain negative verbs.
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "no matter" alone without a relative pronoun (what, who, which) is ungrammatical. Additionally, using it to mean "because" or "therefore" is a logical error.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from no matter what on Ludwig.guru.
"No matter what happens, we keep playing." — nytimes.com
"Love yourself, no matter what." — wikihow.com
"No matter what Mark Zuckerberg says." — washingtonpost.com
"No matter what, though, he was genuine." — nytimes.com
"Expiration comes no matter what we do." — newyorker.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/no+matter+what
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
Depending on the level of formality or the specific situation, you might want to vary your language.
| Phrase |
Context |
| regardless of |
A slightly more formal prepositional phrase used before nouns or gerunds. |
| whatever |
More concise; often used in informal or shorthand contexts to mean the same thing. |
| at all costs |
Emphasizes extreme determination or the necessity of an outcome. |
| come what may |
A more literary or old-fashioned idiomatic expression. |
| irrespective of |
Highly formal; common in legal or official documentation. |
Common Mistakes
- Missing Punctuation: Forgetting the comma when the phrase starts a sentence can lead to a run-on feel.
- Incomplete Construction: Learners often mistakenly use it as a complete sentence without a following clause or use 'no matter' without the necessary relative word (what/how/who).
- Redundancy: Adding "even if" before "no matter what" is redundant because the concessive meaning is already present.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| no matter what |
Concession / Determination |
Neutral |
Initial, Medial, or Final |
FAQs
Can no matter what appear at both the beginning and the end of a sentence?
Yes, no matter what is syntactically flexible and can be used in sentence-initial, mid-clause, or final positions. When used at the start, it sets a concessive tone for the entire statement, whereas at the end, it often acts as an emphatic afterthought.
What is the difference between no matter what and regardless of?
While both express concession, regardless of is a prepositional phrase that must be followed by a noun or a pronoun. In contrast, no matter what can function as a standalone adverbial or be followed by a full subordinate clause.
Is it correct to use no matter as a standalone phrase?
No, learners often mistakenly use it as a complete sentence without a following clause or use no matter without the necessary relative word like what, how, or who. To be grammatically correct, it must include the relative pronoun to link the condition to the rest of the sentence.