What does No Matter mean in English? A detailed guide of No matter in English

No matter is a common structure in English used to introduce adverbial clauses that indicate contrast. Similar to phrases such as "Although," "Despite," and "In spite of," No matter is used to express that something is not important regardless of the circumstances. In this article, we will explore the meaning, usage, and structure of No matter, and provide you with examples and exercises to help you master it.

I. What is No matter in English?

In English, No matter is an introductory phrase used to mean "Regardless" or "It doesn’t matter." It is typically used to link two clauses, No matter meaning indicates that a situation or condition does not affect the outcome. 

For example: 

• No matter what, he still loves me. 

• No matter how badly I treat him, he never leaves me.

Some idioms/phrases used with No matter in English:

II. How to Use No matter in English

There are several common ways to use No matter in English, especially in conversations and exams. Below is the general structure, followed by examples of its use:

No matter + who/what/which/where/when/how + S + V,…

This structure expresses the meaning of "Regardless of , still happens". Here are some examples:

• No matter who calls, tell them I'm not home. 

• No matter which path you choose, I'll support you. 

• No matter where you live, you can find happiness with your partner. 

• No matter when you arrive, there will always be someone to greet you. 

• No matter how much money you have, you can't buy happiness. 

1. No matter how

No matter how is used to indicate "regardless of how". It is typically followed by an adjective or adverb.

No matter how + adj/adv + S + V,…

For example:

• Anna always arrives on time, no matter how far she has to travel.

• No matter how much Bella eats, she is always hungry. 

2. No matter who

No matter who is equivalent to "whoever" and means "regardless of who".

Examples:

No matter + who + S + V,…

For example: 

• No matter who calls, tell them I'm not home. 

• No matter who you are, you must follow the company rules. 

3. No matter what grammar

No matter what meaning is "whatever" or "regardless of what happens".

No matter + what + S + V,…

For example:

• No matter what happens, my boyfriend will always be here for me. 

• No matter what you do, please be careful. 

4. No matter where

No matter where means "wherever" or "regardless of where".

No matter + where + S + V,…

For example:

• No matter where you go, don't forget to call home and visit your parents. 

• No matter where I am, I can always feel homesick. 

III. Key notes when using No matter

Here are some important points to keep in mind when using No matter in English:

Note 1: When the sentence only contains one clause, you can replace no matter with "it doesn't matter" before the relative pronoun.

• No matter what he says, I won't believe him. ⏩ It doesn't matter what he says, I won't believe him. 

• No matter where you go, I'll find you. ⏩ It doesn't matter where you go, I'll find you. 

Note 2: In conditional sentences, "it doesn’t matter" is preferred over no matter.

• Correct: It doesn't matter what you choose, I'll support you. ✅

• Incorrect: No matter what you choose, I'll support you. ❌

Note 3: No matter can also be placed at the end of a sentence.

• You can call me anytime, no matter. 

• I'll be there for you, no matter. 

Note 4: A common mistake is to use "not matter" instead of no matter. Remember, the correct structure is "no matter," not "not matter."

• Incorrect: Not matter what you say, I won't believe you. ❌

• Correct: No matter what you say, I won't believe you. ✅

IV. Distinguishing No matter from similar structures

1. Distinguishing No Matter and Regardless of

2. Distinguishing No Matter and Notwithstanding 

V. Exercises on No matter in English with detailed answers

Now that you understand how to use No matter in English, practice with the exercises provided to solidify your knowledge. This structure is essential for effective communication and will help you both in conversations and exams. Make sure to practice regularly and apply these tips to enhance your language skills.

Exercise: Combine the following pairs of sentences into one sentence using No matter:

1. Barbara’s life is hard. She is determined to study well. 

2. My marketing leader owns the biggest corporation in this country. He doesn’t feel fulfilled.

3. My sister is very young. She is still able to deal with these difficulties.

4. Sarah is good at Literature. She hasn’t composed this poem yet.

5. My dad has been in the food industry for a very long time. He couldn’t get a hit.

Answer key:

1. No matter how hard Barbara’s life is, she is determined to study well.

2. No matter how big my marketing leader’s company is, he does not feel fulfilled.

3. No matter how young my sister is, she is still able to deal with these difficulties.

4. No matter how good at Literature she is, Sarah hasn’t composed this poem yet.

5. No matter how long my dad has been in the food industry, he couldn’t get a hit.

This article offers a comprehensive guide to No matter in English, covering its meaning, usage, and differences with other similar expressions. By regularly practicing and applying these structures, you'll be able to use No matter confidently in various contexts.