No matter means “regardless of” or “it doesn't matter”, much like whatever, however or wherever. It is usually followed by a question word: no matter what, how, where, who. It stresses that the result will be the same in any circumstances: No matter what happens, I'll support you.
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no matter + what/how/where/who + clause; no matter how + adjective/adverb + clause; …, no matter what
- No matter how advanced technology becomes, schools will still need good teachers.
- Call me when you land, no matter what time it is.
- No matter where I sit in the office, I can hear the printer.
What changed
First versionNo matter how you work hard, you still need a day off every week.
RevisionNo matter how hard you work, you still need a day off every week.
In an ordinary sentence hard goes after the verb: you work hard. Out of habit, that order is often kept after no matter how too. But how pulls along the adjective or adverb it refers to: how hard, how often, how much. So hard was moved to directly after how.
It doesn't matter is a complete sentence meaning “that's not important”: It doesn't matter what you wear. No matter doesn't usually form a sentence on its own; it attaches to the main idea: You look great no matter what you wear. At the end of a sentence, no matter what means “whatever happens”: I'll be there on Saturday, no matter what.
Your turn
No matter ___ hard I try, I can't remember all these phrasal verbs.
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how — The sentence is about how much effort you put in, and degree is shown with how: how hard. What refers to a thing, not a degree, so it doesn't combine with hard.
Write about a habit or rule you always stick to. Use no matter how or no matter what, and name a circumstance that doesn't stop you.
No matter how tired I am after work, I spend fifteen minutes reviewing new English words.
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