it’s its /ɪts/
This month at Pronunciation Studio we’re talking about apostrophes’ influence on pronunciation, starting with the word /ɪts/. The pronunciation of /ɪts/ is always the same, regardless how it’s written, but its written form can contain an apostrophe.
What’s the rule?
Have a look at this sentence, what is the function in each version of /ɪts/:
The lion’s eaten its breakfast and now it’s eating your lunch!
- the apostrophe in < it’s > always indicates something missing: it’s an abbreviation of either “it is” or “it has”.
- < its > is always possessive, whilst English normally uses an apostrophe for a possessive word, pronouns don’t follow the rule – “hers” “his” “theirs” etc.
So simply remember, never use an apostrophe for possession with /ɪts/.
Exercise
Now have a go: decide whether the /ɪts/ in each sentence should be < its > or < it’s >:
[ssba]
- /ɪts/ such a lovely day!
- Why haven’t you removed /ɪts/ cover?
- I must say that /ɪts/ been very difficult.
- /ɪts/ over there, next to the boiler.
- They’re working to improve /ɪts/ performance.
- Where’s /ɪts/ name from?
- Doesn’t /ɪts/ guarantee cover it if /ɪts/ been in a fire?
- /ɪts/ /ɪts/ name I don’t like!
1. it’s 2. its 3. it’s 4. it’s 5. its 6. its 7. its it’s 8. it’s its