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How to use 'Its' or 'It's'

Average: 3.4 (58 votes)

 

Its confusing, or it's confusing?

Do you know when we should use its and it’s?

It's

The word it's is always used as a short form of it is.

‘It’s a red umbrella.’

In casual/ informal English it’s is also used for it has.

‘It's got a hole in it.’

Its

Its is a possessive pronoun like her or him. It means ‘belonging to it'.

'The dog used its mouth to open the door.'

Hint

When you become confused, use it is instead of it’s and see if the sentence looks strange. If it looks OK, it probably is.

When you're not sure about its, try using his or hers instead. Again, if it looks grammatically OK, it probably is.