Its or it's? Your or you're? The apostrophe test

The rule

Its and your show who owns something: its colour, your bag. It's means it is or it has, and you're means you are: It's late. You're right.

Each pair sounds exactly the same, so learners guess. The apostrophe in Sara's book also makes it's look possessive, but possessive its has no apostrophe, just like his and her.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Is that your new phone? It's really nice.

B: Thanks! Its camera is amazing.

A: You're lucky. My phone is so old.

B: Then it's time for a new one!

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. The dog is eating ___ dinner.
   • a) it's
   • b) its
   • c) it is
2. ___ going to love this film.
   • a) You're
   • b) Your
   • c) You
3. ___ been a busy week.
   • a) Its
   • b) It is
   • c) It's

Tip

Test it: put it is or you are in the gap. If the sentence still works, write it's or you're; if not, write its or your. Remember that it's can also mean it has: It's been a long day.

Answers

1. b) its. Its shows possession: the dog's dinner.
2. a) You're. You're = you are.
3. c) It's. Here it's means it has.

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