Question

Which word in the sentence is a predicate nominative? And why?

Mozart was a brilliant composer of the Classical period.

A.was
B.Mozart
C.composer
D.gifted

Answer 1

Composer, full phrase is a brilliant composer.

Explanation:

Generally a complement position object is a predicate nominative if there is a copulative verb

Because see it.

He is a doctor.

He refers to whom? He refers to a doctor. It does mean he and doctor are a same person, it is called predicate nominative, grammar says so.

But many daily lives thoughts don't follow grammar at all.

Like whom/who issue.

Many educated American might use without thinking twice who or whom in their conversation that is called colloquial style or convention that is correct too.

Majority of people say something it is correct. Though if you write it in your competitive exam,( civil servant exam) sorry, you will get penalty to cut the mark!

Like: it is me===wrong.
Despite saying in the road/offices, whatever it is.

Many write:

He is taller than me. ==WRONG grammar. Conventional situation ok.

He is taller than I (am) . CORRECT.

These ways,

After a copulative verb, the pronoun will be SUBJECT pronoun. It is called grammar.

Mozart was----refers to an object as a subject pronoun--like composer --same one. it is called nominative/predicate adjective too.

Hope it works.