Command English

Grammar Quick Tip: It’s vs. Its

Many English learners find “it’s” and “its” confusing, but there is a simple way to understand them. “It’s” is a short form of “it is” or “it has.” You use it when you can replace the word with “it is” or “it has” and the sentence still makes sense. For example, “It’s raining outside” means “It is raining outside.” If you cannot replace it with “it is,” then you should not use the apostrophe.

On the other hand, “its” (without an apostrophe) shows that something belongs to “it.” We call this a possessive. For example, “The cat licked its paw” means the paw belongs to the cat. You can think of “its” in the same way you think of “his” or “her,” which do not need an apostrophe to show ownership.

If you are not sure which one to use, try this quick test: can you expand it to “it is” or “it has”? If yes, then pick “it’s.” If that does not work, choose “its.” In writing, this difference is important because it helps your meaning stay clear. Using the wrong form can confuse the reader, or make your English look less professional.

With a bit of practice, you will soon see the difference automatically. Try writing a few sentences: “It’s a sunny day” and “The house lost its roof in the storm.” Notice how the meaning changes when you apply the rule. Keep practicing, and you will master “it’s” vs. “its” in no time!