Page 592 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

4 fixed phrases
Subjunctives are also used in certain fixed phrases. Examples: God save the Queen! Long live the King!
God bias you. Heaven forbid.
He's a sort ofadopted uncle, as it were. (::; ... in a way.)
Be that as it may ... (= Whether that is true or not ...)
If we have to pay £2,000, then so be it. (= We can't do anything to change it.)
5 other structures
Most subjunctive structures are formal and unusual in British English. In that- clauses, British people usually prefer should + infinitive (see 521), or ordinary present and past tenses.
It is essential that every child should have the same educational opportunities. (OR ••• that every child has ...)
It was important that James should contact Arthur as soon as possible. (OR . .. that James contacted . ..)
568 such
1 word order
Such is used with nouns and noun phrases. It comes before alan. such people such interesting ideas
such a decision (NOT a such deeisitJn)
2 'of this/that kind'
Such can mean 'like this/that', 'of this/that kind'. This is most common in a formal style, with abstract nouns.
The committee wishes to raise fees. I would oppose such a decision.
There are various forms ofsecret writing. Such systems are called 'codes'. In an informal style, and with concrete nouns, we prefer like thisl that or thisl that lcind oj.
... systems Uke this are called . ..
He's got an old Rolls-Royce. I'd like a car like that. (NOT r'd like 3tl:ch a CtlF.)
3 high degree
Another use of such is to talk about a high degree of some quality. In this sense, such is common before adjective + noun.
I'm sorry you had such a bad journey.
(= You had a very bad journey, and I'm sorry.) It was a pleasure to meet such interesting people.
Such is also possible with this meaning before a noun alone, when the noun has an emphatic descriptive meaning.
I'm glad your concert was such a success.
Why did she make such a fuss about the dates?
such 568
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