1. Two formulas to recall, rather than build
Be that as it may and come what may are fixed constructions with the base forms be and come. Learn them as complete expressions: these forms do not change with the main clause's subject or tense.
Do not replace be with is or come with comes when using these expressions. Similar subjunctive formulas exist beyond these two examples, but their uses also need to be learnt individually.
The main work in this rule therefore involves two decisions rather than building a form: recall the whole formula unchanged, and choose whichever one matches the direction of your thought. The rest of the sentence is ordinary English with its own subject and predicate.
Be that as it may, + full clause | Come what may, + full clause
- clause —
- A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
Be that as it may, the tender will be reopened next month.
Be that as it may, the tender will be reopened next month.
The complete formula is followed by a comma and an ordinary clause with the subject the tender and predicate will be reopened.
Come what may, this ward keeps two nurses on duty at night.
Come what may, this ward keeps two nurses on duty at night.
The formula's three words do not change; the following ordinary Present Simple sentence could stand alone.
The auditors disagree with the estimate. Be that as it may, the figure has already gone to press.
The auditors disagree with the estimate. Be that as it may, the figure has already gone to press.
That refers to the previous idea about the auditors' disagreement. Clear context is needed, supplied by the text, conversation, or shared situation.
2. Be that as it may: acknowledge what was said and move on
Be that as it may expresses concession: the speaker allows the preceding idea for the sake of argument and moves to the main point. This does not necessarily confirm the idea's truth. It is close to “even if that is so”, “nevertheless”, or “all the same”.
That normally refers to an idea already expressed or understood from context. A separate preceding sentence is not a grammatical requirement, but the reader must understand what is being conceded.
What follows the formula is not a repetition of the concession, but something that remains true despite the expectation it creates. If the second part merely reinforces the first, the formula is poorly chosen: it promises a turn that never comes.
The sample was smaller than we would have liked. Be that as it may, the effect held at all three sites.
The sample was smaller than we would have liked. Be that as it may, the effect held at all three sites.
The first sentence acknowledges a weakness; the second shows that it did not undermine the result. That turn makes the formula appropriate.
— Half the committee has never worked with this format. — Be that as it may, the vote stands.
— Half the committee has never worked with this format. — Be that as it may, the vote stands.
In conversation, the other person supplies the preceding claim, and that points back to their whole turn.
Be that as it may, who is going to explain the delay to the donors?
Be that as it may, who is going to explain the delay to the donors?
A question can follow the formula too: the concession concerns the preceding turn, not the sentence type after the comma.
3. Come what may: whatever happens
This formula looks forward. It does not concede a prior point; it packages all still-unknown future circumstances into three words and asserts that the main claim is independent of them. It means “whatever happens”, “no matter what”, or “under any circumstances”.
The formula often accompanies a promise or firm decision. It can also appear in a past narrative: She had decided to stay, come what may. The unknown circumstances were future relative to that past decision.
You can leave the circumstances unnamed or specify them for emphasis. The formula itself means “under any circumstances”, but does not prohibit additional explanation.
Come what may, the ferry leaves the harbour at six.
Come what may, the ferry leaves the harbour at six.
No circumstances are named or needed: the formula already covers them collectively.
The bridge will be finished this year, come what may.
The bridge will be finished this year, come what may.
This formula also readily appears at the end; put a comma before it.
I will hand in the manuscript on Friday, come what may.
I will hand in the manuscript on Friday, come what may.
The main clause is a personal promise, a particularly suitable meaning for this formula.
4. What must remain unchanged in these formulas
All five words of be that as it may are fixed. Be does not become is, was, or being: it does not agree with the subject or vary for tense. That is not replaced with this or it, and it does not become they even when several facts are involved. May is not changed to might, will, or can.
In the usual expression come what may, retain those three words exactly: do not add -s to come. Other formulas, particularly literary ones, may use another modal; here we practise the most common version with may.
Do not insert anything inside the formulas: no adverb, clarification, or prepositional phrase. If you need to specify the area concerned, name it in the main clause rather than between the formula's words.
be + that + as + it + may | come + what + may
Be that as it may, the deposit is not refundable.
Be that as it may, the deposit is not refundable.
The five words appear in exactly this order; none agrees with the subject the deposit.
Come what may, the choir sings at seven.
Come what may, the choir sings at seven.
Come belongs to a separate fixed expression and does not agree with the choir, the main clause's subject.
Come what may, the funding question will be settled in court.
Come what may, the funding question will be settled in court.
The topic, funding, is named in the main clause rather than inside the formula.
5. Sentence position and commas
Both formulas are detached adverbial expressions, not conjunctions. They do not coordinate two clauses: a self-contained clause follows the formula, and the comma marks its boundary rather than merely decorating the sentence.
Come what may can readily appear initially, medially between the subject and the rest of the predicate, or finally. Set it off with commas in all three positions: one at the edge of a sentence, two in the middle.
Be that as it may most often opens a sentence; parenthetical position is also possible. Initial position is a useful choice for a teaching example, not a universal ban on other placements.
Come what may, … | …, come what may. | subject, come what may, predicate …
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
Come what may, the register opens on Monday.
Come what may, the register opens on Monday.
In initial position, one comma follows the formula immediately.
The register opens on Monday, come what may.
The register opens on Monday, come what may.
In final position, use a comma before the formula to mark the adverbial boundary.
The trustees, come what may, will meet in October.
The trustees, come what may, will meet in October.
Parenthetical position between subject and predicate requires two commas.
The report is incomplete. Be that as it may, the minister has already seen it.
The report is incomplete. Be that as it may, the minister has already seen it.
The concession opens the second sentence, the typical and safest position for this particular formula.
6. The formula needs a complete main clause
The formula replaces neither a subject, a predicate, nor a conjunction. After the comma, provide a complete clause that could stand alone: The vote stands. The gates open at ten. I will not sign it.
The main point normally follows the formula directly. An extra but or however is often stylistically unnecessary, but another subordinate clause is possible: Come what may, although it may take years, we will finish. It must have a clear role in the complete sentence.
The formula does not introduce a subordinate clause either: it does not take a dependent that-clause as its complement. If you find yourself writing be that as it may that…, restructure the thought into two independent sentences.
Be that as it may, the vote stands.
Be that as it may, the vote stands.
The vote stands is self-contained; the formula merely prepares for it and replaces nothing within it.
Come what may, I will not sign that clause.
Come what may, I will not sign that clause.
The main clause has its own subject I and predicate will not sign.
Be that as it may, two of the reviewers still want a second round.
Be that as it may, two of the reviewers still want a second round.
Still emphasises the reviewers' unchanged position. It naturally goes inside the main clause.
7. Register: where the formulas fit
Both formulas belong to formal or rhetorical language: business letters, reports, public speeches, argumentative writing, and solemn promises. In everyday conversation, they sound marked and sometimes ironic, which is precisely why they may be used jokingly.
In neutral text, simpler expressions do similar work: nevertheless, even so, all the same, and still for concession; no matter what, whatever happens, and regardless for independence from circumstances. Use the formula when its weighty tone is wanted.
Do not repeat the formulas mechanically: excessive solemnity can burden a text. Deliberate rhetorical repetition is also possible; this is a stylistic choice, not a grammatical prohibition.
The costs have risen sharply. Be that as it may, the trustees will not raise the entrance fee.
The costs have risen sharply. Be that as it may, the trustees will not raise the entrance fee.
The formal context of a board decision makes the formula's weighty tone appropriate.
Yeah, it rained all day. Still, we finished the fence.
Yeah, it rained all day. Still, we finished the fence.
A short connector is more natural in this everyday utterance than a solemn formula.
Come what may, this library will not close.
Come what may, this library will not close.
A public statement is a setting where the formula's weight works in the speaker's favour.
8. Choosing the right formula quickly
Check the meaning: “even if the preceding idea is true” calls for be that as it may; “whatever happens” calls for come what may. The second formula expresses independence from circumstances, not necessarily a personal promise.
Two quick checks: can you replace the expression with “despite what was just said”? If so, it is a concession. Can you replace it with “whatever happens next”? If so, it expresses independence from circumstances.
Both formulas may be appropriate after a stated obstacle, but they express different things: a concession concerning that point, or determination regardless of any later circumstances. Choose according to the speaker's intention.
Two of the translators withdrew yesterday. Be that as it may, the summary will appear in all four languages.
Two of the translators withdrew yesterday. Be that as it may, the summary will appear in all four languages.
The formula draws on a specific stated fact and leads to something that fact has not prevented.
Come what may, the window for comments stays open until the end of the month.
Come what may, the window for comments stays open until the end of the month.
Come what may emphasises that the deadline remains unchanged under any circumstances. Be that as it may would need a clear concessive context.
— The examiners have added a second viva. — Be that as it may, the submission date has not moved.
— The examiners have added a second viva. — Be that as it may, the submission date has not moved.
Be that as it may appropriately concedes the news. Come what may would shift the emphasis to the date remaining unchanged under any circumstances.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Is that as it may, the tender will proceed.
Correct:Be that as it may, the tender will proceed.
The verb in the formula is fixed and does not agree with that. Is makes the expression resemble the beginning of a question and disrupts its meaning.
Incorrect:Comes what may, I am not withdrawing the paper.
Correct:Come what may, I am not withdrawing the paper.
The target fixed expression requires the base form come without -s: come what may.
Incorrect:Comes what may, the depot opens at five.
Correct:Come what may, the depot opens at five.
Agreement does not operate inside this fixed formula, so there is no reason to add -s: the verb remains in its bare form.
Incorrect:Be that as it may, the auditors still needs the raw files.
Correct:Be that as it may, the auditors still need the raw files.
The subject auditors is plural, so use need without -s. The initial formula is already correctly separated by a comma.
Incorrect:Be that as it may the fee is non-refundable.
Correct:Be that as it may, the fee is non-refundable.
The formula is a detached adverbial, and a comma marks the boundary before the independent clause; without it, the sentence reads as a single fused construction.
Incorrect:Come what may about the weather, we set off at dawn.
Correct:Come what may, we set off at dawn.
Do not insert clarifications into the fixed formula. If the weather needs naming, mention it in the main message or a separate sentence.
Incorrect:Be that as they may, the objections are recorded.
Correct:Be that as it may, the objections are recorded.
The pronoun it in the formula is also fixed and does not become plural even when the preceding claim concerns several facts.