its or it's?

The rules

When it's taught at school: Year 2 (short forms) and Year 4 (belonging).

1. 1

   it's always means 'it is' or 'it has'

   • It's raining. (It is raining.)
   • It's been a long day. (It has been…)
2. 2

   its means 'belonging to it'

   Like his and her, it has no apostrophe.

   • The dog wagged its tail.
   • The school opened its new library.
3. 3

   The check

   Try saying 'it is' or 'it has' instead. If it makes sense, write it's. If not, write its.

   • The bird built it's nest → 'it is nest'? No, so: its nest.

Common mistakes

• The cat licked it's paws.

  The cat licked its paws.

  The paws belong to the cat, so it's its, with no apostrophe.

• Its going to be sunny.

  It's going to be sunny.

  This means 'it is going to be sunny', so it needs the apostrophe.

Spot the mistake, 11+ style

Real examples of the questions in our papers. Cover the answer and see if your child can find the mistake.

• Its going / to be / sunny on / Saturday.

  Show the answer

  Part A should be It's going. it's here is short for "it is", so it needs an apostrophe. its without an apostrophe means "belonging to it".

• I can't find / my coat, / and its / freezing outside.

  Show the answer

  Part C should be and it's. it's here is short for "it is", so it needs an apostrophe. its without an apostrophe means "belonging to it".

• "Bring your / wellies," Mum / reminded us, / "because its muddy."

  Show the answer

  Part D should be "because it's muddy.". it's here is short for "it is", so it needs an apostrophe. its without an apostrophe means "belonging to it".

• The chameleon / uses camouflage / to hide / from it's enemies.

  Show the answer

  Part D should be from its enemies.. its (without an apostrophe) means "belonging to it", which is what is needed here. it's always means "it is" or "it has".

• The bird / built it's / nest in / the old oak tree.

  Show the answer

  Part B should be built its. its (without an apostrophe) means "belonging to it", which is what is needed here. it's always means "it is" or "it has".

• The jam jar / had lost / it's lid / somewhere.

  Show the answer

  Part C should be its lid. its (without an apostrophe) means "belonging to it", which is what is needed here. it's always means "it is" or "it has".

Practise a little every day

The daily spelling workout ends with a short punctuation round at your child's level, and brings back the marks they miss.