Author Topic: it's versus its  (Read 1778 times)

Offline DJ Doena

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it's versus its
« on: November 19, 2012, 05:18:40 PM »
Hi,

English question:

This is not about "it's = it is" but the genitive form of "it".

When you have a proper name it has an apostrophe, e.g. "Karsten's boat".

When you use the male or female personal pronoun it's "her boat" or "his boat".

But what if the object is neutral, hence "it".

Is it "it's attributes" or "its attributes"?
Karsten

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Mustrum_Ridcully

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2012, 05:45:29 PM »
AFAIK it's ( :P ):

It's for It Is
It's for the possessive
Its if it's more than one "it"

So it is "It's attributes"

Offline Tom

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2012, 06:47:12 PM »
I thought the possessive form is "its". I am always using it like this and as far as I remember it was what I learned in school.



MEJHarrison

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2012, 07:44:48 PM »
Another vote for its attributes being correct.

Every Google hit on "it's vs its" backs that up.

Alien Redrum

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2012, 07:52:47 PM »
"Its attributes" is correct.

It's = it is or it has
Its = possessive

Offline Eric

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2012, 01:14:34 AM »
It's a web site with its qualities and defects ;)

http://garyes.stormloader.com/its.html

Offline goodguy

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2012, 02:19:31 AM »
Its. Also theirs.
Matthias

Offline Dragonfire

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2012, 04:50:13 AM »
From what I remember, its.  I think.  I'm too tired to think right now.

Offline Achim

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2012, 05:33:45 AM »



But yes, "its".

Offline DJ Doena

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2012, 05:48:11 AM »
Thanks :)
Karsten

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Offline Blair

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Re: it's versus its
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2012, 06:26:37 AM »
Yes, it's its  :P
I have a collection.
It can be found here.
No need to check it often.
I update it only twice a year!


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