reference

First of all, 'which' should be 'that'. From those three choices, I'd say (c). 'There's something that makes it inevitable that light tries all paths, etc.'

I would say (c) : something. And substantiating proof of this is that you could make it :
'About the nature of light : there must be something which makes it inevitable that it tries all paths, and then eliminates all but the briefest'.
Have I convinced you with my tentative explanation ?

Thxs mister DavKett. Could you maybe remind us why it should be 'that' instead of 'which' ? I have a hunch but I'm still troubled 'coz to my ear both sounded fine... Thxs in advance !

Use 'that' for introducing a restrictive clause, and 'whic'h for a non-restrictive clause. A 'which' clause is separated by commas.

DavKett, allow me one last question for today... Restrictive vs non-restrictive clause : the subject of the subordinate clause would be the same (as that of the main clause) in the case of a restrictive clause, would be another one with a non-restrictive clause ? Is this a correct definition of restrictive/non-restrictive ? Pls pardon my ignorance, must be one of those grammar classes that I skipp

Hello
I'm a non-native learner and I learned in school that "which" can be used both restrictively and non-restrictively. However, I have a feeling that, people nowadays, especially Americans, have a tendency to avoid the restrictive use of "which". They prefer 'that' in the case the relative is used restrictively, as Davkett's message suggests. Another rule about relatives I learned in schoo

Waïti
DavKett, allow me one last question for today... Restrictive vs non-restrictive clause : the subject of the subordinate clause would be the same (as that of the main clause) in the case of a restrictive clause, would be another one with a non-restrictive clause ? Is this a correct definition of restrictive/non-restrictive ? Pls pardon my ignorance, must be one o

TakaThere must be something about the nature of light which makes it inevitable that it tries all paths, and then eliminates all but the briefest.

I know it's hard to pin down, but, if anything, which does the relative pronoun 'which' refer to?

Hi Waiti,

This is the way I think of it, but maybe Jussive is right that 'it is not strictly adhered to'. (I don't know what that's supposed to mean, however.)

http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Nonrest

MrPedanticIt seems to me that the antecedent here is not any one word in particular, but an idea we must extract from the first clause: "an as yet unidentified characteristic of light".

"There must be a factor X which..."

I believe 'factor X' is a fancy wayof saying, 'something'.