"it's" vs "its"

The dog ate from ___ food dish and drank from ___ water dish.

  • it's

    Votes: 27 11.9%
  • its

    Votes: 199 88.1%

  • Total voters
    226

binmosa

New member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
The answer has never been ( It's ) .
The correct answer is ( its ) .
 

Majeste

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Yes! (Either "its is right" or "its is the right one".)


:-D:up:
I see, thank you. The reason is that right is not a noun. I can't use "the" article with an adjective. Great! I'm really happy. :)
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
The dog ate from it's food dish and drank from it's water dish. - wrong
The dog ate from it is food dish and drank from it is water dish. - wrong
The dog ate from its food dish and drank from its water dish. - correct

As you can see it's = it is, and it is makes absolutely no sense here.

Whenever you could write his or her, you have to write its as well.
(If you don't know its gender.)

Cheers!

 

gregory bel

New member
Joined
Jan 25, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
The dog ate from it's food dish and drank from it's water dish. - wrong
The dog ate from it is food dish and drank from it is water dish. - wrong
The dog ate from its food dish and drank from its water dish. - correct

As you can see it's = it is, and it is makes absolutely no sense here.

Whenever you could write his or her, you have to write its as well.
(If you don't know its gender.)

Cheers!


Thanks it's information has helped me
 

the creative

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2009
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Jordan
Current Location
Jordan
of course the right answer is "its" because the food dish and water dish are dog (gears)
 

Rogers

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Hindi
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
Its is the right answer.
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Latin
Home Country
Greenland
Current Location
Argentina
No teacher.

Yeah, I agree with the guys who say its is the right one.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
If you look back through the thread, you'll see that RonBee has confirmed the correct answer several times.
 
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Latin
Home Country
Greenland
Current Location
Argentina
You taught me a lesson on that one, 5jj.
 

Muhamad Rijal

New member
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Member Type
Retired Academic
Native Language
Indonesian
Home Country
Indonesia
Current Location
Indonesia
Yep, the answer is "its"....
 

Nakuru

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
Clearly "its" :)
 

Ro.Zy

New member
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
English
Home Country
Indonesia
Current Location
Indonesia
"its" is possesive, and "it's" is contraction

so the answer it "its" . . yeas i'm right. .
 

Maudit

Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Slovak
Home Country
Slovak Republic
Current Location
Slovak Republic
it's is contracted form of it is and it doesn't make any sense there
 

Jinglebelle

New member
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Which one is right?

A very simple "rule of thumb" to follow for this is the following: If, when reading out the question, you can say "it is" then the one you would use is it's. If, when reading out the question, you can not say "it is" and have the sentence make sense, then you use its.
 

heckedonder

New member
Joined
Jul 29, 2016
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Turkish
Home Country
Turkey
Current Location
Turkey
I think. Both are correct but when I talking to use, I usally use "it's". Because it's easier.
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I think. Both are correct but when I talking to use, I usally use "it's". Because it's easier.

Only use it's where you could write it is or it has. If you can't, then it's is always​ wrong.

Since its and it's are pronounced the same, this applies only to written English.
 
Last edited:
Top