Tired as she was…: concession with fronting and fixed phrases
Concede a point with style: adjective + as / though, try as he might, for all, be that as it may, come what may
What you'll be able to do
Concede a point with style in essays, speeches and literary writing, and recognise these patterns in demanding texts.
The patterns
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| adjective / adverb + as / though + subject + verb | although … | Tired as she was, she kept working. |
| verb + as + subject + may / might | however hard … | Try as they might, they couldn't find the leak. |
| however + adjective + subject + may | it doesn't matter how … | However hard it may seem, it can be done. |
| for all + noun | despite | For all his charm, nobody trusted him. |
| be that as it may | even so | Be that as it may, the decision stands. |
| come what may | whatever happens | Come what may, we'll finish on time. |
- Exhausted as they were, the rescuers kept searching.adjective + as + subject + verb: although they were exhausted
- Try as they might, they couldn't find the leak.verb + as + subject + might: however hard they tried
- Strange though it may seem, the plan actually worked.though + may: although it seems strange
- For all its faults, the report raises important questions.for all + noun: despite its faults
- Come what may, the festival will go ahead.a fixed phrase: whatever happens
The subject comes before the verb after as and though: there is no inversion.
One pattern, two meanings
Adjective + as + subject + verb can also give a reason: Tired as he was, he went straight to bed (= because he was tired). The rest of the sentence shows which meaning is intended.
Common mistakes
Tired as was she, …→ Tired as she was, …As tired as she was, she kept working.This is common in conversation, especially in American English, but careful writing drops the first as: Tired as she was, …Trying as he might, …→ Try as he might, …Be it as it may, …→ Be that as it may, …
Practice
- _____, she refused to give up.Options: Frustrated as she was · Frustrated as was she · As frustrated she was
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Frustrated as she was — Adjective + as + subject + verb, with no inversion.
- _____ as we might, we couldn't change their minds.Options: Try · Trying · Tried
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Try — Verb + as + subject + might: the bare verb.
- Be that _____ it may, the deadline cannot move.
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as — Be that as it may: a fixed phrase meaning even so.
- Come _____ may, we will open on Monday.
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what — Come what may: whatever happens.
- Strange _____ it may sound, the cheaper option performed better.
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though — Adjective + though / as + subject + may: although it sounds strange.