Idiomatic and formal structures
were it not for, but for, come what may, be that as it may, as it were, lest.
| Structure | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| were it not for / had it not been for / but for | if it weren't for / if it hadn't been for, without | Were it not for you, I'd be lost. Had it not been for the rain, we'd have won. But for your help… |
| come what may | whatever happens | I'll support you, come what may. |
| be that as it may | even so, nevertheless | Be that as it may, we must decide. |
| as it were | so to speak | He is, as it were, a living legend. |
| lest + (should) base | so that … not; for fear that (very formal) | Speak quietly lest you wake the baby. |
| so be it | I accept it, even if I don't like it | If that's your decision, so be it. |
| far be it from me to | I don't want to (but I will) | Far be it from me to criticise, but… |
| the + comparative, the + comparative | parallel increase | The sooner, the better. |
Test yourself
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Rewrite: If it hadn't been for the traffic, we'd have arrived on time. (But for…)
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But for the traffic, we'd have arrived on time. -
Say «whatever happens, I'll be there» with a fixed phrase.
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Come what may, I'll be there. -
Say «even so, we must act» with a fixed phrase.
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Be that as it may, we must act. -
What does «as it were» mean?
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so to speak