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English Grammar - Usage

It's and its

These two words are often confused by foreign learners of English.

Its is a possessive word like my or your.

  • Every country has its traditions.
  • Its colour was deep red.

It’s is the contracted form of it is or it has.

  • It’s raining again. (= It is raining again.)
  • It’s time we went home. (= It is time we went home.)
  • Have you seen my cell phone? It’s disappeared. (= It has disappeared.)

See Also

Since, for, ago and before
Enough to and too...to...
Has/have been and has/have gone
They're, there and their
Too and to

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