Its: Meaning, Usage, and Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：its (its)

its 🔊

/ɪts/

adj.

Used to say that something belongs to or is related to a thing, animal, or baby that was mentioned before.

Golden retriever puppy looking at red ball on grass

its 🔊

➕

/ɪts/

adj.

Used to indicate possession or association with a previously mentioned thing, animal, or baby.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'it' and the possessive suffix 's'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'it' + 's' — if it belongs to 'it', add an 's'.

📖 Example

The puppy wagged its tail happily when it saw its owner. 🔊 The puppy wagged its tail happily when it saw its owner.

🔗 Collocations

its own – belonging to itself

its ability – the capability of it

its purpose – the reason or goal of it

🔄 Synonyms

of it (phrase) – indicating possession in a longer form

🚫 Antonyms

other's (adj.) – belonging to a different entity

someone else's (phrase) – belonging to another person

📖 Cultural Story

In Old English, the neuter possessive was 'his'. Around the 16th century, 'its' emerged from 'it' + 's', replacing 'his' for non-personal objects.