What is No matter? Detailed usage of No matter in English

No matter is one of the introductory structures for adverbial clauses in English that indicates contrast, alongside other formulas such as "Although," "Despite," or "In spite of." Refer to the definition, usage, structure, and exercises below to grasp the grammar knowledge of No matter in English with PREP in this article!

I. What is No matter in English?

No matter in English is an introductory structure that conveys the meaning of "however" or "regardless". No matter meaning is to indicate that something is not an issue regardless of the circumstances.

This expression is used to link two clauses together. Essentially, you can think of No matter synonym is the expression "It does not matter."

For example: 

• No matter what, he still loves me. 

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

Some idioms/phrases with No matter in English: 

II. How to Use No matter in English

Below are the four most common structures of No matter in English, frequently used in both conversation and English exams. Before diving into the details, let’s see the general structure of No matter.

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

This structure is used in English to express the meaning of "regardless of ... still ...". Here are some examples for your reference:

• 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" in English is used with the meaning "regardless of how."

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 equivalent to "Whatever" and means "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" in English is equivalent to "Wherever" and means "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. General notes when using No matter in English

Below are some important notes to remember when using No matter in English:

Note 1: If the sentence has one clause, instead of using No matter, you can use "It doesn't matter" before "what/where/...".

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

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

Note 2: In conditional sentences, you should use "It doesn't matter" instead of 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 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 when using No matter: The structure is only 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 in English and 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

Complete the following exercise to grasp No matter in English:

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 provides all the comprehensive knowledge about No matter in English. To effectively use this structure in both communication and real-life exams, make sure to practice the exercises regularly and apply this structure in practice.