Key Difference

• Its (without the apostrophe) is a possessive adjective, meaning something belongs to “it.”
• It’s (with the apostrophe) is a contraction, a shortened form of “it is” or “it has.”

Detailed Breakdown

1. Its (Possessive Adjective)

• What it means: This word shows possession, just like “his,” “her,” or “their,” but for things, animals, or ideas.
• When to use it: Use its when you’re talking about something that belongs to or is part of a thing or an animal.

  Examples:

  • “The dog wagged its tail.” 🐕 (The tail belongs to the dog.)
  • “The book lost its cover.” 📖 (The cover belongs to the book.)

Think of its as saying that something belongs to the thing you’re talking about.

2. It’s (Contraction of “It is” or “It has”)

• What it means: This is a shortened form of “it is” or “it has.” The apostrophe here shows that letters have been left out.
• When to use it: Use it’s when you can replace it with “it is” or “it has” and the sentence still makes sense.

  Examples:

  • “It’s a beautiful day.” 🌞 (It is a beautiful day.)
  • “It’s been a long time.” ⏳ (It has been a long time.)

Common Mistakes and Tips

It’s easy to confuse these two! Here’s a quick way to avoid mistakes:

• Test it: If you can replace it’s with “it is” or “it has” and the sentence works, then use it’s. If not, use its.

  Example:

  • “The cat licked its paws.” Can you say “The cat licked it is paws”? No, that doesn’t make sense, so the correct word is its (possessive).
  • “It’s raining outside.” Can you say “It is raining outside”? Yes, it makes sense, so it’s is correct.

Practice Time!

Now it’s your turn to try:

Fill in the blanks with its or it’s:

1. The tree lost _______ leaves in the storm.
2. _______ going to be a fun party tonight.
3. The baby held _______ toy tightly.
4. _______ been a great day at the beach.

Answers:

1. its – The tree lost its leaves in the storm.
2. It’s – It’s going to be a fun party tonight.
3. its – The baby held its toy tightly.
4. It’s – It’s been a great day at the beach.

Pro Tip 🌟

Think of it’s as “it is” or “it has” with a missing letter (the apostrophe shows something is left out). If no letter is left out, you’re talking about something that belongs to “it,” and that’s when you use its.