Can a query be used in place of a table in SQL Server

Question

This should really be allowed - I do not understand why it is not.

SELECT * 
FROM (
    SELECT * 
    FROM MyTable
)

Answer 1

In SQL Server it is allowed, but the inner select has to be given a name, such as:

SELECT *  
FROM ( 
    SELECT *  
    FROM MyTable
) m

When a name is not supplied it will throw an incorrect syntax error near ')' message.

Answer 2

If you add a table alias it should work:

SELECT * 
FROM (
    SELECT * 
    FROM MyTable
) as A