What is the difference between "its" and "their" ?

Question

When are you supposed to use "its" and when are you supposed to use "their"?

Answer 1

Its is singular and their is plural.
The dog was small and its fur was short.
The Blakes live down the street and their house is white.

Answer 2

Oh boy...just what I dread! People answering a question when they don't know the answer!!!

Its (without the apostrophe!) is a possessive word - used when referring to something belonging to one person/thing. Ex: The cat sat on its pillow. The bird preened its feathers.

It's (with the apostrophe!) is a contraction - meaning "it is." So many people get those too mixed up! Ex: It's raining outside today. It's going to be cold tomorrow.

Their is also a possessive - meaning something belonging to more than one person. Ex: Their house is very beautiful. The couple picked up their daughter after the party.

Just to add to this...I feel like I need to finish it now that I started!

Theyr'e (with an apostrophe!) is a contraction which means "they are." Ex. They're coming over later. I talked to my brothers and they're happy about the move.

There refers to location (think HERE and THERE). Ex. I put the magazine over there. There are multiple copies of the book on the shelf.

PLEASE!!!!! Use caution when using its and it's, their, they're and there!!!

Answer 3

"Its" is for when 1 animal/thing has something.

e.g. The squirrel has brown fur. Its fur is also soft and thick.

"Its" would take the place of squirrel and also tells that the "fur" it the squirrel's fur.

"Their" is for when 2 or more animals, people, or things have something.

e.g. The people next door have a nice television. Their tv is a flat screen plasma tv.

"Thier" takes the place of "The people next door" and says that the "tv" this the tv of "the people next door."

However, it can be plural for both words as well.

For example, it can be:

Ant has many homes. Its homes include anthills, as well as assorted people's houses.

or

My friends enjoy shopping at many stores. Their favorite stores are Delia's, Papaya, and Macy's.

Answer 4

There are two differences as follows:
(A) singular vs. plural
"its" is singular; "their" is plural.
(B) people vs. objects
"its" refers to objects only;
"their" can be used for objects or people.

Examples:
(A) For objects:
(1) Each book has a title on its cover. (singular/object)
(2) All the books have titles on their covers. (plural/objects)
(B) For people:
(1) Each student should do his or her own work. (singular/person)(you should not use "its" for a person, though some people use "its" when referring to a "baby")
(2) All the students should being working on their projects. (plural/people)

Common mistakes:
Note 1: Misspelling "its" (possessive) as "it's" (contraction):
* "its" is the possessive form of "it."
* "it's" is a contraction for "it is," and is not possessive.
Examples:
* Every question has its answer. (possessive)
* It's raining outside. (contraction)
If you forget this, remember "whose" and "its" are both possessive, while "who's" and "it's" are both contractions.

Note 2: Using "their" (plural) instead of "his or her" (singular)
Another common mistake is incorrectly using "their" (which is plural) with indefinite pronouns that sound plural but are treated as singular.

Subjects such as "every student," "everyone," "no one," "someone," and "anyone," should be used with "his or her" (instead of "their" which is grammatically incorrect).
* Every student should do his or her own work. (correct)
* No one should copy from his or her neighbor. (correct)
* Someone left his or her homework on the table. (correct)
Incorrect:
Everyone should do their own work. (incorrect)
No one should copy from their neighbor. (incorrect)
Someone left their homework on the table. (incorrect)

Answer 5

Its- singular possessive- The horse broke its leg.

their- plural possessive - The horses rolled their eyes.

it's - contraction for it is. It's going to rain tonight.

Some people just give too much information.

Answer 6

It's is an abbreviation for It is.
Example: It's the end of the day.

Their shows possession.
Example: Their house is on the corner.

Answer 7

"Its" is singular possessive, as in "The cow chewed its cud."

"Their" is plural possessive, as in "The children picked up their toys."

Answer 8

Their is possessive, i.e it's their house over there.

it's - is it is. its is used for everything else.

Answer 9

"it's" describes something, "their's" describes a person.

Answer 10

are you stupid?