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{{wikipedia}} |
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==English== |
==English== |
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{{rank|upon|may|about|72|its|time|only|like}} |
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===Etymology=== |
===Etymology=== |
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* The related but different term {{term|it's}} is a [[contraction]] of "it is" or "it has". For example, '''''It's''' going to rain'' is equivalent to '''''It is''' going to rain'', and '''''It's''' got three wheels'' is equivalent to '''''It has''' three wheels.'' |
* The related but different term {{term|it's}} is a [[contraction]] of "it is" or "it has". For example, '''''It's''' going to rain'' is equivalent to '''''It is''' going to rain'', and '''''It's''' got three wheels'' is equivalent to '''''It has''' three wheels.'' |
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* Like ''it'', ''its'' is usually avoided when referring to humans. ''Its'' is commonly used with animals when the gender is unknown or unimportant. With humans, {{term|person}} is used for a person whose gender is unknown or to describe something that could be possessed by either gender, {{term|body}} or {{term|corpse}} are often used to describe a dead person, and {{term|figure}}, {{term|shape}}, and {{term|silhouette}} are often used to describe what someone sees as a person but can't see clearly enough to determine an identity or gender, e.g. ''The '''figure''' moved behind a bush, but Josh could see '''its''' shadow from the moonlight.'' |
* Like ''it'', ''its'' is usually avoided when referring to humans. ''Its'' is commonly used with animals when the gender is unknown or unimportant. With humans, {{term|person}} is used for a person whose gender is unknown or to describe something that could be possessed by either gender, {{term|body}} or {{term|corpse}} are often used to describe a dead person, and {{term|figure}}, {{term|shape}}, and {{term|silhouette}} are often used to describe what someone sees as a person but can't see clearly enough to determine an identity or gender, e.g. ''The '''figure''' moved behind a bush, but Josh could see '''its''' shadow from the moonlight.'' |
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* {{rank/test|72|en-gut}} |
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===See also=== |
===See also=== |
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Revision as of 03:25, 22 July 2010
English
Etymology
Probably by analogy with possessives ending in (deprecated template usage) 's. There is no apostrophe, by analogy with (deprecated template usage) his, (deprecated template usage) hers, (deprecated template usage) yours, etc. and to distinguish the pronoun from the contraction (deprecated template usage) it's. Note that the corresponding Old English and Middle English genitive form is (deprecated template usage) his.
Its can function as either a possessive adjective or a possessive pronoun. Its form is the same when used in either case. While common as a possessive adjective, its is extremely rare as a possessive pronoun.
Pronunciation
- Lua error: Please specify a language code in the first parameter; the value "/ɪts/" is not valid (see Wiktionary:List of languages)., Template:SAMPA
Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "en-us-its.ogg" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.noicon (file) - Lua error in Module:homophones at line 93: Parameter 2 is required.
Pronoun
its
- (deprecated template usage) Its is extremely rare as a pronoun, the pronoun (deprecated template usage) it being very rarely stressed. There is also very rarely a need for its as a possessive pronoun.
- The mind has its reasons and the heart has its.
Translations
that which belongs to it
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Adjective
its
- Belonging to it (used as a possessive adjective).
- This jar has a lid; this is its lid.
Translations
belonging to it
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Usage notes
- (deprecated template usage) Its is the possessive form of (deprecated template usage) it. (deprecated template usage) Its therefore does not take an apostrophe to indicate possession as it is already a possessive term, similar to (deprecated template usage) his and (deprecated template usage) hers.
- The related but different term (deprecated template usage) it's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". For example, It's going to rain is equivalent to It is going to rain, and It's got three wheels is equivalent to It has three wheels.
- Like it, its is usually avoided when referring to humans. Its is commonly used with animals when the gender is unknown or unimportant. With humans, (deprecated template usage) person is used for a person whose gender is unknown or to describe something that could be possessed by either gender, (deprecated template usage) body or (deprecated template usage) corpse are often used to describe a dead person, and (deprecated template usage) figure, (deprecated template usage) shape, and (deprecated template usage) silhouette are often used to describe what someone sees as a person but can't see clearly enough to determine an identity or gender, e.g. The figure moved behind a bush, but Josh could see its shadow from the moonlight.
- Template:rank/test