Here’s an issue that confuses native English speakers: when and where to use an apostrophe with it. This has been covered a lot online, because these two words are very commonly confused, but I still get asked about it so hope my own explanation might reach a few more people.

Mastering its vs it’s comes down to understanding possessive determiners, which foreign learners might be quicker to grasp than native speakers. This article contains a complete explanation, with an exercise to follow.

What’s the Difference Between its and it’s?

To start, here’s a simple explanation:

• it’s demonstrates a contraction; it combined with is or has
• its demonstrates possessive; something belongs to it

The contraction works as normal: when we have a verb form with is or has, we shorten it to an ’s to combine with a noun. It’s should therefore be found in verb phrases, either to show states or with the continuous or perfect tenses.

• It is a blue bird. -> It’s a blue bird.
• It is very bright outside. -> It’s very bright outside.
• It has been raining. -> It’s been raining.

The confusion comes from the possessive use, because in English we can also use a noun combined with an apostrophe and s to show possession : David’s hat, the cat’s meow, the boat’s sails. As it is used as a pronoun in sentences to replace a noun, many English speakers instinctively use an apostrophe with it to show possession.

So why is this incorrect? Because it is not a noun, it is a pronoun (like he, she and they), and we don’t use an apostrophe to show possession with pronouns – we use possessive determiners (otherwise called possessive adjectives). Possessive determiners are a group of words with the specific grammatic function of demonstrating possession: my, your, his, hers, our, their, and indeed, its. None of these need an apostrophe, because their job is to show possession. You should therefore find its at the start of noun phrases.

• Tina’s dress -> her dress
• the car’s windows -> its windows

This trips up English speakers because such language nuances come naturally – it’s never really necessary to understand what this group of words is, because their use is so specific. But we are taught about, and fret over, apostrophes, which have various rules and styles, so when tackled with an issue like it appearing to take the place of a noun, and knowing that a structure like it’s does exist, it is natural to bring doubt and confusion (whereas hi’s, they’s and so on would seem very unusual, with the exception of her’s – but that is not so common a mistake).

Are there exceptions to this?

English is a living language and just because the rule and structure has a purpose and makes sense, it doesn’t mean you will always say it’s and its used properly. This is one of the areas you can expect to see more mistakes than usual: apostrophes often appear in the wrong places in general (sometimes people use them to show plurals, or put them in the wrong position) – and to some this is simply not important, so you might see them go uncorrected. Beware of such uses, though, as they are incredibly common but they are mistakes. To be accurate, and to best communicate recall that it’s is a contraction and its demonstrates possession.

Here’s a quick exercise to see if you can identify the different uses.

Its Vs It’s Exercise

Fill the blank with either it’s or its.

1. Our town is lively. ___ nightlife is excellent.
2. Look out the window. ___ a beautiful day for a picnic.
3. Have you seen my scarf? ___ not in the cupboard.
4. Bob has a new truck. ___ engine is very powerful.
5. My parrot is troublesome. ___ torn up my homework.
6. Olivia has a new car. ___ got a big sunroof.
7. The cake is almost done. ___ decorations are amazing.
8. Your dinner is ready; ___ waiting in the oven.
9. ___ too late to turn back now.
10. The pub is clearly closed, as ___ lights are off.

Answers

1. Our town is lively. Its nightlife is excellent.
2. Look out the window. It’s a beautiful day for a picnic.
3. Have you seen my scarf? It’s not in the cupboard.
4. Bob has a new truck. Its engine is very powerful.
5. My parrot is troublesome. It’s torn up my homework.
6. Olivia has a new car. It’s got a big sunroof.
7. The cake is almost done. Its decorations are amazing.
8. Your dinner is ready; it’s waiting in the oven.
9. It’s too late to turn back now.
10. The pub is clearly closed, as its lights are off.

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