its
Its (det) means belonging to it. Example: “The dog wagged its tail.”
How to use its
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelonging to it — don't confuse with "it's" (it is).
Its (no apostrophe) shows possession. It's (with an apostrophe) is short for "it is" or "it has." If you can replace it with "it is" and the sentence still works, use it's.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog wagged _____ tail.
Etymology
Formed in the 1500s–1600s as a new possessive form of "it" — Old English originally used "his" instead.
Rhymes for its
See all rhymes for its →Frequently asked questions
What does “its” mean?
The word “its” means belonging to it. In plain terms, belonging to it — don't confuse with "it's" (it is).
How do you pronounce “its”?
“Its” is pronounced ihts (/ɪʔ.s/ in IPA).
How do you use “its” in a sentence?
Here is “its” used in a sentence: “The dog wagged its tail.”
What part of speech is “its”?
“Its” is a det.
Where does the word “its” come from?
The word “its” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Old English. Formed in the 1500s–1600s as a new possessive form of "it" — Old English originally used "his" instead.
Is “its” a common word?
“Its” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between its and it's?
"Its" (no apostrophe) is the possessive, meaning belonging to it ("the dog wagged its tail"). "It's" (with an apostrophe) is only ever the contraction of "it is" or "it has" ("it's raining," "it's been ages"). If you can replace the word with "it is," you need the apostrophe.
Why doesn't its have an apostrophe?
Possessive pronouns and determiners in English — his, hers, ours, yours, theirs, its — never take apostrophes. The apostrophe in "it's" marks the missing letters of "it is," not possession, which is why the possessive form is "its" with no apostrophe.
Is "its'" ever correct?
No. "Its'" with an apostrophe after the s is never a correct English word. The only two forms are "its" (possessive) and "it's" (short for "it is" or "it has").
Can its refer to a baby or an animal?
Yes, though usage varies. "Its" is normal for animals of unknown sex ("the bird built its nest") and is grammatically possible for a baby, but many people find it impersonal and prefer "his," "her," or "their" once the child is known.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing its in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
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