We know that an adverb clause can convey more than one meaning. The sentence Before you leave the house, make sure to turn off all the lights, for example, shows meaning of time as well as condition: It clearly shows time through subordinating conjunction before, and it shows condition through implicit conditional meaning (If you leave the house…).
Adverb clauses of condition-concession, better known as conditional-concessive clauses, convey meaning of condition and concession, simultaneously. They’re of two types: alternative conditional-concessive clause and universal conditional-concessive clause.
1. Alternative conditional-concessive clause
These clauses come in the form of correlative sequence whether…or (whether). The second whether is optional, but is usually retained if a clause follows or.
Conditional meaning comes from the sequence whether…or, which also provides alternatives. And concessive meaning comes from unexpectedness of same result (in matrix clause) despite two contrasting alternatives in the adverb clause. (In normal course, you would expect different result for different alternative.) Because the clause always contains two contrasting alternatives, concessive meaning is inherent in it. Examples:
Whether you go by train or drive, you will reach there by evening.
[Conditional meaning: Even if you go by train or even if you drive…. Concessive meaning: Two contrasting alternatives leading to the same result in matrix clause (you will reach there by evening). That’s unexpected.]
Whether you decide to stay or whether you choose to leave, you will always have our support.
It doesn’t matter whether it rains or shines, we are going on the trip. [Adding It doesn’t matter or No matter makes the correlative more emphatic.]
So far, we looked at only finite clauses, but alternative conditional-concessive clause can be non-finite or even verbless.
(Finite vs. non-finite vs. verbless clause: If you don’t know what finite, non-finite, and verbless clauses are, here is a simplified difference between the three. A finite clause contains a finite verb. It’s another term for noun clause, relative clause, and adverb clause. A non-finite clause contains a non-finite verb. It’s another term for infinitive phrase, participial phrase, and gerund phrase. A verbless clause resembles a clause but lacks a verb phrase.)
Examples:
Non-finite clause
Whether working from home or office, she always stays productive.
Cooking a meal or ordering takeout, they enjoy dinner together. [Subordinator may be dropped if it doesn’t affect meaning.]
Verbless clause
Whether happy or sad, he never misses his daily walk.
With additional resources or without them, we’ll finish the project on time. [Verbless clauses can be introduced by correlative with…or without.]
With or without additional resources, we’ll finish the project on time.
Universal conditional-concessive clause
Whereas alternative conditional-concessive clause gives two alternatives, universal conditional-concessive clause gives any number of alternatives. They’re introduced by wh-words plus ever (whatever, whoever, etc.). Examples:
Whatever means of transport you choose, you will reach there by evening. [Unlike the two alternatives in Whether you go by train or drive, you will reach there by evening, the alternatives here are many.]
Whoever takes on the leadership role, the company will do well.
