when do you use its instead of it's?

Answer 1

it's = contraction of "it is" (i.e. It's too hot to go outside.)
its = possession (i.e. That cat is laying on the floor. Its tail is swishing back and forth.)

Answer 2

It's using the apostrophe is basically saying i am combining 2 words together to make 1. Those two words are IT AND IS. Thus It's and It Is are one and the same. The word Its as used in sentences indicates an item, most often a noun but sometimes a pronoun. These may be a car, plane, person, etc...
It's with an apostrophe is used as a descriptor most often. It's going to rain today. This sentence is the same as It is going to rain today. etc...

This is the same as don't which is the same as combining the words Do and NOT. They're is THEY and ARE. etc...

Answer 3

Actually:

"Its" is the possessive form, "it's" is a contraction for "it is".

I know, it's a bit contradictory to the normal usage, but it's the way it is.

You can use this tool to see which is correct. If you can replace your use of "it's" with "it is" in your sentence then "it's" is the right usage.

its -- possessive pronoun, that which belongs to it.
it's -- contractive form of it is.

personal pronouns do not get a possessive apostrophe.

Add: some retard went and put thumbs down on all of the right answers. It's kinda funny isn't it? ☺

Answer 4

Normally you use a contraction for possession, like 'That's George's car.'

But for 'it' you do not use the apostrophe for possession. The apostrophe is only used with 'it' for a contraction, as in 'it is' or 'it has'.

So it would be 'My dog licks its feet' or 'The US has its capitol in Washington, D.C.'. Those are both examples of possessives.

And it would be 'It's cold outside', a contraction of 'it is'. Or 'It's been there all along', a contraction of 'it has'.

Answer 5

You use "its" when referring to things belonging to animals.
It's is the short form of [it is].

Example:

The giraffe's neck -- is the same as --- its neck.
My dog's tail. --- is the same as --- Its tail.

I am pointing to the tail now and say, "It is a tail."
I can also say "It's a tail."

It's = It is.

Answer 6

It's confusing. (It is confusing)
Look at its confusion.
I suppose that logically a possessive of it should be it's but it isn't.

Answer 7

its is the possesive form for it.
it's means it is

Answer 8

momma frog got it backwards.

Answer 9

it's is to stand for "it is" where as its is everything else

Answer 10

it's is showing possesion, so "it's handle". whereas its does not, such as "its hot outside"

Hope that helps.