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I'm reading Dracula's sequel, Dracula: The Un-dead. This sentence is taken from chapter 48.

Thoughts of Dracula seeped into Mina's mind. God help her. What if it was he?

I'm not sure if it's a printing error or some old-English style of writing but according to me, the "he" in this sentence should be "him". Any idea?

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    Both are fine. he is rather formal.
    – Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini
    May 27, 2017 at 20:26
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    "What if it was he?" is the kind of overwrought language that makes it sound like a real bodice-ripper. But otherwise see this
    – Andrew
    May 27, 2017 at 20:33
  • @Andrew The second link made it all clear to me. Could you please write it as an answer so I can accept it. It's a great explanation and I think it'd be helpful to others.
    – 7_R3X
    May 28, 2017 at 5:34

2 Answers 2

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You can use the subjective form because it (he) is not an object; rather, it's a predicative complement1 of the copular (was).

However, the objective form (him) is the most natural way of using it in daily conversations. The subjective form (he) is just too formal and is not a suitable for casual use.

1 If you are not sure whether a noun is an object or a predicative complement. You can try the passivation test to confirm it

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it was he

is actually correct. The subjective is used after a be-ing verb.

Most people will understand

it was him

Just as most people will use

It is me

instead of the correct

It is I.

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  • Peter I don't quite get it, why is he correct? Let's say somebody asks, "Who did it?". One should answer, "It was me" or "I did it" and not "It was I".
    – SovereignSun
    May 28, 2017 at 6:14
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    The correct answer is "It was I", however common usage has become "It was me" which technically is incorrect, this issue comes up every now and then in ELL
    – Peter
    May 28, 2017 at 6:20
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    Not so, I'm afraid, Peter. There is no rule of English grammar requiring a nominative form where a pronoun is complement of the verb "be". Accusative "me" is just as correct as nominative "I".
    – BillJ
    May 28, 2017 at 9:57

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