It’s or its?
It’s is the contracted form of it is or it has:
- Can you hear that noise? Where do you think it’s (it is) coming from?
- It’s (it is) nearly the end of the month. It’s (it has) gone really quickly.
Its is a possessive determiner (like my, your, his) which we use when referring to things or animals:
- Every house in the street has got its own garage.
- [talking about a famous American journalist]
- He joined the New York Tribune (1868), becoming its editor-in-chief and eventually its principal owner (1872–1905).
We don’t use its as a possessive pronoun.
Compare
A: Whose is this ball?B: Mine. | Possessive pronoun mine used alone. |
A: Whose is this ball?B: The dog’s.Not: | Possessive determiner its is not used alone. We repeat the noun which is being referred to. |
See also
- Pronouns: possessive (my, mine, your, yours, etc.)