Is the plural form of "its" the same as its singular form?

Examples for you: The *monkey* ate _*its*_ bananas. The *monkeys* ate _*their*_ bananas.

What if I just say "its" and nothing else. What does "its" is in this case?

Just saying “its” as the whole sentence is grammatically incorrect. If you say “It’s”, that means “it is” which _is_ correct. However, it sounds weird if you say “It’s.” I would just say “”It is.”

basically "it's" is a shorter version of it is or it has. "its" is a possessive pronoun that doesn't use apostrophes.correct?

Almost. "It's" *is* a shorter version of _it is_, but *not* of _it has_*. And yes, "its" - the possessive pronoun - does not used apostrophes. What I do to check myself when I'm writing is quickly say the sentence to myself with "it is" substituted for "it's". If it works, apostrophe. If it doesn't make sense, no apostrophe. * The exception is when you're using the _present perfect_ tense, and then you can use "it's" in place of it has: - It's been several years since I've seen them. - It's taken way too long to get the results I want. Substituting "it's" for it has is very casual usage though - fine for texts and personal emails, but not for essays or formal writing. Hope this helps!

AT 0:48 The person says ITS is a possessive pronoun. In the examples given, ITS a possessive adjective and not a possessive pronoun. *Possessive Adjectives* go before a noun... My car, Her book, His bike, Its tail etc. *Possessive Pronouns* do not have a noun after it as pronouns replace the noun. It is MINE, it is HERS, it is HIS. Is that an accidental mistake in the video?

At first I thought the same, however, in the sentence _I like ribeye steak because of its rich flavor_, *its* is being used as a substitute for *ribeye steak*, making it a pronoun. It's a good question, since some possessive adjectives and possessive pronoums are different (my/mine), but, at the same time, the possessive of 'it' is 'its', either as an adjective or as a pronoum. So you can say: *Its tail* or *The tail is its*

I understand the difference between "It's and Its" but my question is what is the difference between "Its and Its'" because aren't they both possessive and show possession over something. For example "The school closed its stadium at 5 p.m." Or "The monkey peeled its' banana." What is the difference? Also how do I know which one to add in a sentence?

Do it this way: "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". "Its" (no apostrophe at all) is for all other things. This is irregular, but you have to get used to it. I make mistakes all the time. My finger on the keyboard automatically goes for the apostrophe, even when I KNOW that I don't want it.

Why is its possessive?

Great question! Let's dive in! 'Its' is possessive, because it is showing that the thing owns/has something. Here is an example to break things down: "The cat licked its fur." This is showing the cat OWNS its fur, so it is licking it. Hope this helps, although you sent this a year ago, at least I hope it helps others! - Naomi

Why is "its' " not a word? Could I say "it is the cats' toys?" (I am saying it is many cats toys). I say someone say in the comment to never use "its' ", so is cats', or toys', etc., the same?

Each singular possessive form (hers, his, its) has the same plural possessive form (theirs). Therefore, there's no need for the word its'. Telling it's and its apart is difficult enough without throwing in another variation. :)

Can "it's" ever stand for "it HAS"? Ex: It's been a long time.

Yes! *It's* can definitely stand for *it has*. The same would go for *he's* and *she's*. Also, words with _'d_ like *it'd* could either stand for *it would* ("It'd be nice to get together") or *it had* ("It'd been a long time since then").

How can one tell when the meaning is it is = it's, and when the meaning is it has = it's

Just context clues. In the sentence "It's been raining all day", the use is clearly "it has", because "it is" wouldn't make sense. In the sentence "It's a lovely day out", the use is "it is", because "it has" wouldn't make any sense.

Main content

Grammar

Unit 6: Lesson 6

"Its" versus "it's"

Choosing between its and it’s

Name: Choosing between its and it’s
Uploaded: 2016-06-14T23:21:05Z
Description: David and Paige explain the meaning of two English words that look and sound very similar but act very different: _its_ and _it's_.

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David and Paige explain the meaning of two English words that look and sound very similar but act very different: _its_ and _it's_.

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Frederick Wang
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Frederick Wang's post “Is the plural form of "it...”
Is the plural form of "its" the same as its singular form?
(16 votes)
Answer
- trek
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to trek's post “Examples for you: The *m...”
  Examples for you:
  
  The monkey ate its bananas.
  The monkeys ate their bananas.
  (47 votes)
Mariksel Azemaj
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Mariksel Azemaj's post “What if I just say "its" ...”
What if I just say "its" and nothing else. What does "its" is in this case?
(7 votes)
Answer
- 🌸Desert Flower🌸 #BBB
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to 🌸Desert Flower🌸 #BBB's post “Just saying “its” as the ...”
  Just saying “its” as the whole sentence is grammatically incorrect. If you say “It’s”, that means “it is” which is correct. However, it sounds weird if you say “It’s.” I would just say “”It is.”
  (6 votes)
Ibrahim Dar
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Ibrahim Dar's post “basically "it's" is a sho...”
basically "it's" is a shorter version of it is or it has.
"its" is a possessive pronoun that doesn't use apostrophes.correct?
(5 votes)
Answer
- Polina Vitić
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to Polina Vitić's post “Almost. "It's" *is* a sho...”
  Almost. "It's" is a shorter version of it is, but not of it has*.
  
  And yes, "its" - the possessive pronoun - does not used apostrophes.
  
  What I do to check myself when I'm writing is quickly say the sentence to myself with "it is" substituted for "it's". If it works, apostrophe. If it doesn't make sense, no apostrophe.
  
  * The exception is when you're using the present perfect tense, and then you can use "it's" in place of it has:
  - It's been several years since I've seen them.
  - It's taken way too long to get the results I want.
  Substituting "it's" for it has is very casual usage though - fine for texts and personal emails, but not for essays or formal writing.
  
  Hope this helps!
  (7 votes)
Rob Woodward
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Rob Woodward's post “AT 0:48 The person says I...”
AT
0:48
The person says ITS is a possessive pronoun.

In the examples given, ITS a possessive adjective and not a possessive pronoun.
Possessive Adjectives go before a noun...
My car, Her book, His bike, Its tail etc.

Possessive Pronouns do not have a noun after it as pronouns replace the noun.
It is MINE, it is HERS, it is HIS.

Is that an accidental mistake in the video?
(4 votes)
Answer
- Vinicius Pereira Fernandes
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Vinicius Pereira Fernandes's post “At first I thought the sa...”
  At first I thought the same, however, in the sentence I like ribeye steak because of its rich flavor, its is being used as a substitute for ribeye steak, making it a pronoun.
  
  It's a good question, since some possessive adjectives and possessive pronoums are different (my/mine), but, at the same time, the possessive of 'it' is 'its', either as an adjective or as a pronoum. So you can say: Its tail or The tail is its
  (3 votes)
dougrhondawhittaker
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to dougrhondawhittaker's post “I understand the differen...”
I understand the difference between "It's and Its" but my question is what is the difference between "Its and Its'" because aren't they both possessive and show possession over something. For example "The school closed its stadium at 5 p.m." Or "The monkey peeled its' banana." What is the difference? Also how do I know which one to add in a sentence?
(3 votes)
Answer
- David Alexander
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to David Alexander's post “Do it this way: "It's" i...”
  Do it this way: "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has".
  "Its" (no apostrophe at all) is for all other things. This is irregular, but you have to get used to it. I make mistakes all the time. My finger on the keyboard automatically goes for the apostrophe, even when I KNOW that I don't want it.
  (4 votes)
Jenny
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Jenny's post “Why is "its' " not a word...”
Why is "its' " not a word? Could I say "it is the cats' toys?" (I am saying it is many cats toys). I say someone say in the comment to never use "its' ", so is cats', or toys', etc., the same?
(2 votes)
Answer
- Courteney
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Courteney's post “Each singular possessive ...”
  Each singular possessive form (hers, his, its) has the same plural possessive form (theirs). Therefore, there's no need for the word its'. Telling it's and its apart is difficult enough without throwing in another variation. :)
  (6 votes)
plus_zewo
Posted a year ago. Direct link to plus_zewo's post “just treat it's as it is.”
just treat it's as it is.
(4 votes)
Answer
Daniel Garcia
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Daniel Garcia's post “How can one tell when the...”
How can one tell when the meaning is it is = it's, and when the meaning is it has = it's
(1 vote)
Answer
- Benny C
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Benny C's post “Just context clues. In t...”
  Just context clues.
  
  In the sentence "It's been raining all day", the use is clearly "it has", because "it is" wouldn't make sense.
  
  In the sentence "It's a lovely day out", the use is "it is", because "it has" wouldn't make any sense.
  (6 votes)
🌎EarthStudios🌎
Posted a year ago. Direct link to 🌎EarthStudios🌎's post “Why is its possessive?”
Why is its possessive?
(3 votes)
Answer
- Naomi
  Posted a month ago. Direct link to Naomi's post “Great question! Let's div...”
  Great question! Let's dive in!
  
  'Its' is possessive, because it is showing that the thing owns/has something.
  Here is an example to break things down:
  "The cat licked its fur."
  This is showing the cat OWNS its fur, so it is licking it.
  
  Hope this helps, although you sent this a year ago, at least I hope it helps others!
  
  - Naomi
  (2 votes)
KONDRATSFOREVER
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to KONDRATSFOREVER's post “Can "it's" ever stand for...”
Can "it's" ever stand for "it HAS"?
Ex: It's been a long time.
(2 votes)
Answer
- Courteney
  Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Courteney's post “Yes! *It's* can definitel...”
  Yes! It's can definitely stand for it has. The same would go for he's and she's. Also, words with 'd like it'd could either stand for it would ("It'd be nice to get together") or it had ("It'd been a long time since then").
  (21 votes)

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] Hello, grammarians, and, hello, Paige. - [Voiceover] Hi, David. - [Voiceover] So, what are we working on today? - [Voiceover] So, today we're gonna talk about the difference between it's and its. - [Voiceover] Oh, oh, that sounds real tricky. - [Voiceover] Yeah, but we'll be okay. - [Voiceover] Okay. So, it's, with an apos-- So, we have these two forms in English and they mean very different things. So, let's go though them really quick. So, it's with an apostrophe is a contraction, right? What is it a contraction of? - [Voiceover] It is or it has. - [Voiceover] As in, it's a lovely day outside. Or, for it has, like it's been, it has been one week since you looked at cheese. - [Voiceover] (laughing) Sad, it's been a sad week. - [Voiceover] It's been a sad week. As opposed to its. Can you walk me through its. - [Voiceover] So, its is a possessive pronoun. And it's a little confusing 'cause possessive usually uses an apostrophe, too. But possessive pronouns don't use apostrophes. So, you would say something like, I like rib-eye steak because of its rich flavor. - [Voiceover] That's a pretty grody-looking steak. - [Voiceover] (laughs) I know, pink and green is not how you want your steak to look. - [Voiceover] So, we frankly just used its where we would use his or her or their or our. You would use its. - [Voiceover] Right, it's just that it's not a person, so. - [Voiceover] So, if I were asking you, can I borrow your book? That's kinda the same thing as I like rib-eye steak because of its flavor. - [Voiceover] Right, it's showing that the flavor belongs to the steak just like the book belongs to me. - [Voiceover] Right. So, flavor belongs to it, book belongs to you. So, this is the core distinction, is if you're talking about anything that would be about possession you use its. I-T-S, no apostrophe. If you're trying to contract something, it is or it has, like it's a lovely day outside or it's been one week since you looked at cheese. Then you would use I-T apostrophe S 'cause it's a contraction, you're trying to cram more information into this one little phrase. - [Voiceover] Precisely. - [Voiceover] Sweet. That's how you choose between I-T apostrophe S and I-T no apostrophe S. You can learn anything. David out. - [Voiceover] Paige out.

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