Advanced Concessive Clauses: As, Though, and Albeit: correct answers
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Concessive clauses express a contrast or unexpected result, typically using common words like "although" or "even though." However, advanced English often uses highly stylized structures to emphasize this contrast, such as fronting an adjective or a verb. For example, instead of saying "Although it sounds ridiculous," you might say, "Ridiculous as it may sound." Similarly, "Try as I might" is a much more emphatic way to say "Even though I tried hard."
In this challenge, you will help a wizard, a food critic, and an inventor navigate unexpected outcomes. You'll practice advanced concessive structures including fronted adjectives ("Powerful though the wizard was"), verb fronting ("Try as I might"), the formal connector albeit, and the phrase much as to express strong contrast. You will also test your knowledge of "however" paired with adjectives and adverbs.
You'll work through 10 questions in a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are Much as I appreciate culinary innovation, However much I appreciate culinary innovation, and No matter how much I appreciate culinary innovation.
Much as is a highly idiomatic concessive phrase meaning "Even though I [verb] very much." It is usually used with verbs of feeling or preference (like, love, hate, appreciate).
However much and No matter how much are also perfectly valid ways to introduce this concessive idea.
"As much I appreciate" is grammatically incomplete (missing the first "As"), and "Even though much I appreciate" has incorrect word order (it should be "Even though I appreciate culinary innovation very much").
Question 2
Help the heavily scratched pet owner complete their text message about a failed wardrobe change.
_____, I simply could not get the festive holiday sweater onto Mr. Fluffles.
The correct answer is Try as I might.
Try as I might (or Try as he might, etc.) is a fixed, advanced concessive structure meaning "No matter how hard I tried." It always uses the bare infinitive try, never the participle trying.
Despite must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund, not a full clause. However hard did I try is incorrect because we do not use question word order (inversion) after however in a concessive clause.
Question 3
The correct answers are Powerful though the wizard was, he couldn't turn the teacup into a dragon and Powerful as the wizard was, he couldn't turn the teacup into a dragon.
In advanced English (C1/C2), we can emphasize a concession by moving the adjective or adverb to the front of the clause, followed by as or though, and then the subject and verb (Adjective + as/though + Subject + Verb).
"As powerful the wizard was" is incorrect because it lacks the initial "As" (As powerful as...).
"Although powerful the wizard was" has incorrect word order (it should be "Although the wizard was powerful").
"However powerful was the wizard" has incorrect inversion (it should be "However powerful the wizard was").
Question 4
However terrifying the mighty dragon appeared...
"However" + adjective/adverb creates a concessive clause meaning "no matter how." "No matter terrifying" is missing the word "how," and "Although terrifyingly" incorrectly uses an adverb when the linking verb "appeared" requires an adjective.
Whatever the massive creature did...
"Whatever" acts as the object of the verb "did" in this concessive clause. "However" would leave the verb "did" without an object, and "No matter" requires "what" to be grammatically complete.
And even if he had brought a real weapon...
"Even if" introduces a hypothetical or unreal concessive condition (he did not bring a real weapon, so we are imagining a contrary-to-fact scenario). "Even though" is only used for factual situations that actually happened.
Question 5
Complete the enthusiastic inventor's pitch for their highly unusual, yet effective, new gadget.
_____, this giant umbrella hat actually keeps you perfectly dry during a hurricane!
The correct answer is Ridiculous as it may sound.
To form an advanced concessive clause, we can front an adjective or adverb, followed by as or though, and then the subject and verb (e.g., Adjective + as + subject + verb).
Despite cannot be followed directly by a subject-verb clause. However does not trigger subject-auxiliary inversion in dependent concessive clauses (it should be However ridiculous it sounds).
Question 6
Complete the astronaut's frustrated logbook entry about a tech failure in space by choosing the correct words for each blank.
The space station's Wi-Fi refused to connect, however many times Commander Jenkins restarted the ancient router.
She still couldn't load her favorite cat videos despite flipping the main power switch off and on again.
The buffering circle of doom continued to mock her, whatever she did to boost the signal.
The correct answers are however, despite, and whatever.
However can be combined with adjectives or adverbs (like many times) to form a concessive clause meaning "no matter how."
Despite is a preposition that can be followed directly by a gerund (flipping). In spite is incorrect because it lacks the word of, and even though requires a full subject and verb.
Whatever acts as a pronoun here, meaning "no matter what." The distractor no matter is incorrect because it is missing the essential word what.
Question 7
Select the correct phrase to complete this polite (but firm) text message declining a terrifying karaoke invitation.
_____, I think I'll pass on watching your boss butcher 80s power ballads at karaoke tonight.
The correct answer is Much as I appreciate the offer.
Much as is an advanced concessive phrase meaning "Even though" or "Although." It is frequently used with verbs of feeling or preference (like appreciate, love, hate, or want) to politely decline invitations or express regret.
As much I appreciate is missing the first as to make it a valid comparative, and In spite requires of plus a noun phrase or gerund (e.g., In spite of appreciating...).
Question 8
Much as we admire Dr. Thorne's ambition...
"Much as" is an advanced concessive phrase meaning "even though" or "although." "Despite" is incorrect because it must be followed by a noun or gerund, not a full clause. "Even as" means "at the exact same time that," which doesn't fit the concessive meaning here.
Hard as he tried...
In advanced English, we can front an adjective or adverb before "as" to create a concessive clause (meaning "Even though he tried hard"). "Hard although" is ungrammatical.
Ridiculous though it sounds...
Similar to the previous gap, we can front an adjective before "though" for emphasis. "Although" cannot be used in this fronted structure.
Question 9
Help the food critic finish their dramatic review of a disastrous dinner service by choosing the correct words for each blank.
The grand soufflé collapsed into a sad, eggy puddle, try as Chef Gordon might to save it.
He ultimately decided to just order a pizza for his guests, much as he prided himself on his culinary arts.
Something went terribly wrong in the oven, carefully though he had measured the delicate ingredients.
The correct answers are try, much, and carefully.
Try as he might is an advanced, fixed concessive phrase meaning "despite his best efforts."
Much as is often used before clauses with verbs of feeling or valuing (like pride, love, or hate) to mean "even though."
Carefully though is an example of fronting for emphasis. Because the word modifies the verb measured, we must use the adverb carefully rather than the adjective careful.
Question 10
The correct answers are The new "Mandatory Fun" policy was implemented immediately, albeit rather chaotically, The complaints from the accounting department notwithstanding, the mandatory Friday karaoke will continue, and Notwithstanding the loud protests, the CEO has purchased a company-wide slip-and-slide.
Albeit means "even though it is/was," but it is used to introduce an adjective, adverb, or prepositional phrase—not a full independent clause with a subject and verb. Therefore, "Albeit the employees protested loudly" is incorrect.
Notwithstanding is a formal preposition meaning "despite." Uniquely, it can be placed either before the noun phrase ("Notwithstanding the loud protests") or after the noun phrase ("The complaints... notwithstanding").
"Despite of" is always incorrect; it should be either "Despite" or "In spite of".