Sophisticated clause structures
Write fronted concessive clauses, clauses with 'lest', and reduced adverbial clauses with control of register and meaning.
25 minProficiency
1The grammar
Concessive clauses can place an adjective, adverb or verb first: 'Unlikely as it may seem ...', 'Much as we admire her ...', 'Try as they might ...'. 'Though' can often replace 'as' in the adjective and adverb patterns. 'However', 'whatever' and 'no matter how' mean that the outcome does not change: 'However persuasive the argument is, the court needs evidence.'
'Be it ... or ...' is a formal alternative to 'whether it is ... or ...', and 'whatever' can stand before a noun with 'be' left out: 'Whatever the outcome, we will honour our commitments.' 'Lest' expresses a negative purpose and is formal or literary. It normally takes 'should' or a base form: 'lest it should fail', 'lest it fail'. Because it already carries a negative meaning, it should not be followed by 'not' to say the same thing.
An adverbial clause can be reduced by dropping the subject and 'be': 'Once submitted, the form cannot be changed.' The understood subject is normally the subject of the main clause, so 'Walking home, the rain started' is treated as a mistake in careful writing, because the rain was not walking.
2Structure and formation
Adjective or adverb first
adjective/adverb + as/though + subject + verb
Difficult as the decision was, it had to be taken.
Verb first
Try as + subject + might, + main clause
Try as he might, the chairman could not restore order.
No matter what
However + adjective/adverb + subject + verb; Whatever + noun; No matter how + adjective/adverb + subject + verb
No matter how late it is, call me.
Negative purpose
lest + subject + (should) + base verb
They kept the plans secret lest rivals copy them.
Reduced adverbial clause
once / if / although / while + participle or adjective, + main clause
If approved, the budget will take effect in April.
3Examples
Much as we admire her record, we cannot endorse her candidacy.
'Much as' is a formal way of saying 'although we greatly admire'.
Try as he might, the chairman could not restore order.
The fixed pattern means 'however hard he tried'.
Difficult as the decision was, it had to be taken.
The adjective comes first for emphasis.
Be it in public or in private, she has never criticised her predecessor.
'Be it ... or ...' lists alternatives that make no difference.
They kept the plans confidential lest competitors should copy them.
'Lest' means 'to avoid the risk that'.
Not that the board would admit it, but the strategy has failed.
'Not that' denies something the listener might otherwise assume.
If approved, the budget will take effect in April.
The reduced clause shares its subject with the main clause.
4Common mistakes
Much as I admire her, but I cannot support her.
Much as I admire her, I cannot support her.
'Much as' already expresses concession, so 'but' is not added.
However the plan is ambitious, it can be delivered.
However ambitious the plan is, it can be delivered.
In this sense, 'however' must be followed directly by the adjective or adverb.
While in office, several scandals damaged the minister.
While in office, the minister was damaged by several scandals.
The understood subject of the reduced clause should be the main clause subject.
They checked the figures twice lest there should not be errors.
They checked the figures twice lest there should be errors.
'Lest' expresses the unwanted event, so adding 'not' reverses the meaning.
5Practical usage
High-register prose
'Lest', 'be it' and 'try as they might' sound formal or literary. Use them in polished writing or speeches rather than in everyday conversation, where 'in case' or 'whether or not' is more natural.
Compact professional writing
Reduced clauses such as 'If necessary' or 'Once approved' are efficient and very common in reports, instructions and contracts.
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