Words / A1

ITS/ɪts/

Its means belonging to it: the dog ate its food; the city and its parks. There is no apostrophe. It’s always means it is or it has. This mix-up is one of the most common in English writing.

Meaning

Belonging to a thing or animal: The cat ate its food. Not the same as it’s.

Examples

• “The dog wagged its tail.”
• “The tree lost its leaves.”
• “Every school has its own rules.”

Good to know

its = belonging to it (no apostrophe). it’s = it is.

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