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Get it correct

Get it correct

If somebody writes: The dog has bitten it’s owner, it may sound correct if you hear it read out. But as it is written, it is incorrect. This is because we understand what is written as:The dog has bitten it is owner, which, of course, doesn’t make any sense.

The correct sentence is: The dog has bitten its owner. Many people get confused when they have to use the words it’s and its.

The similarity in pronouncing them adds to the confusion, such that even if you write the incorrect one for the correct one, you may not notice the mistake because the incorrect one reads the same as the correct one.

Now, it’s is the contracted or short form of it is and it is used in sentences such as:

 

It’s time to leave for the house.

Though the kids are hungry, it’s not time for lunch.

Mum doesn’t think it’s going to rain.

On the other hand, its (without the apostrophe) is the possessive form of it and it is used to indicate that something belongs to or is associated with or related to it.

Egs: Smoke is coming out of the car but its owner doesn’t seem to be aware.

Mansa has sold the dog but its puppies are here.

The child and its mother are doing fine.

While we are at it, let’s learn that like its, none of the possessive pronouns takes any apostrophe mark.

The possessive pronouns are his, hers, ours, theirs, yours, its and mine.

Indeed, your’s, yours’, our’s, ours’, their’s, theirs’, her’s, hers’, his’ don’t exist in English.

So those of you who write Your’s faithfully, etc in your subscription to letters must try and get it correct the next time you write your letters.

Again, when we hear people say It’s time, it’s me, it’s a goal, etc, we should not write it as Is time, Is me, Is a goal, etc.

It’s not good seeing students and pupils write: Is me your friend, when they should write: It’s me your friend.

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