Using Its

[FlorViteri]

Dear teacher:
Most of the time I feel little confused using "its". Could you please, give some specifics examples.

Thanks,
FlorViteri

[2006]

Originally Posted by FlorViteri

Dear teacher:
Most of the time I feel little confused using "its". Could you please, give some specifics examples.

Thanks,
FlorViteri

"its" is the possessive form of it.
The dog is licking its paw.
The team wants to win the game for its fans.

it's is the contraction of it is.
It's a long way from here to there.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by 2006

it's is the contraction of it is. or it has
It's a long way from here to there.

It's been a long time.

[2006]

Originally Posted by riverkid

It's been a long time.

Yes, It's is also a contraction for It has, as in riverkid's sentence.

[riverkid]

[hat tip]

[Barb_D]

Don't feel too bad about being confused. I believe it's the #1 error made by native speakers when it comes to grammar. Just today someone asked me to read something, and that was the error he had made.

People get confused because you say "Tom's" to mean "belonging to Tom," so why not "it's" to mean "belonging to it" -- but don't think of it that way: Think of its like you would his or hers.