Confusing Its vs It's is one of the most common English grammar mistakes, even for advanced writers. Although they look almost identical, Its shows possession while It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
What is the Difference Between Its vs It's?
To master English grammar and improve your sentence structure, you must understand the exact function of each word. While they sound identical when spoken, their grammatical roles in a sentence are completely different.
| Word | Grammar Role | Meaning / Expansion | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Its | Possessive Determiner | Belonging to it (ইহার) | The dog wagged its tail. |
| It's | Contraction | It is / It has (ইহা হয় / রহিয়াছে) | It's a wonderful day. |
How to Use "Its" Correctly in Sentences
Its শব্দটি একটি possessive adjective বা determiner যা কোন noun এর আগে ব্যবহৃত হয় এবং কোন কিছুর অধিকার বা মালিকানা বুঝায়।
- The baby has spilt its milk. (শিশুটি তার দুধ ফেলে দিয়েছে।)
- This building has lost its grandeur. (এই ভবনটি তার জাঁকজমক হারিয়েছে।)
How to Use "It's" Correctly in Sentences
পক্ষান্তরে, it's হচ্ছে it is কিংবা it has এর contracted form বা সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ। এটি আসলে দু'টি শব্দের একটি বন্ধন যেখানে একটি অ্যাপোস্ট্রফি (apostrophe) লোপ পাওয়া অক্ষরগুলোকে নির্দেশ করে।
- It's four o'clock now. (এখন চারটা বাজে - অর্থাৎ It is four o'clock.)
- It's lost its colour. (এটির রং নষ্ট হয়ে গেছে - অর্থাৎ It has lost its colour.)
Key Takeaways
- Its (without an apostrophe) indicates ownership or possession.
- It's (with an apostrophe) is a contraction for it is or it has.
- Always substitute it is in your head; if the sentence still makes sense, use it's.
Quick Practice Exercise
Test your understanding of Its vs It's! Choose the correct word for the blanks below and write your answers in the comments section:
- ______ a beautiful morning outside. (Its / It's)
- The cat cleaned ______ paws after eating. (its / it's)
Frequently Asked Questions About Its vs It's
Why doesn't the possessive "its" need an apostrophe?
In English grammar, possessive pronouns like his, hers, ours, and its do not take apostrophes to show ownership. Apostrophes in pronouns are exclusively reserved for contractions (like it's for it is).
How can I easily test whether to use its or it's?
Try replacing the word in question with "it is" or "it has". If the sentence flows naturally with the expanded words, use the contraction it's. If it sounds incorrect, use the possessive its.