Its vs Their
What’s the difference between them?
Its
Meaning:
Its is a singular possessive pronoun used to refer to something owned by or associated with a specific person or thing previously mentioned.
Examples:
1. The cat groomed its fur with meticulous care, ensuring every strand was in place.
2. The ancient tree stood tall, with branches stretching out, each adorned with its own unique pattern of leaves.
3. The robot efficiently carried out its programmed tasks, never faltering in precision or speed.
Their
Meaning:
Their is a plural possessive pronoun used to refer to something belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified.
Examples:
1. Their house was decorated with string lights.
2. They were proud of their accomplishments.
3. Their conversation was full of laughter.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Its
Belonging to it
There are no direct antonyms for this word.
Their
Belonging to them
There are no direct antonyms for this word.
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Its", "Their".
1. Remember that the possessive pronoun 'its' refers to singular, while 'their' refers to plural.
2. Create an acronym that helps you remember the difference: 'I' for Its and 'T' for their.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When to use the first word 'Its'?
'Its' is a possessive pronoun and is used to indicate ownership or possession. It is used to refer to something that belongs to or is associated with a particular person, place, or thing, and is used instead of 'it is' or 'it has'. For example, 'Its leaves are changing color' or 'The cat licked its paw'.
When to use the second word 'Their'?
'Their' is also a possessive pronoun but it is used to refer to multiple people or things. For example, 'They brought their own snacks' or 'Their house is the biggest one on the block'.
Do the words have the same pronunciation?
No, the words have different pronunciations. 'Its' is pronounced /ɪts/ and 'Their' is pronounced /ðɛr/.
What are common mistakes associated with words 'Its', 'Their'?
A common mistake with these two words is using the wrong one in a sentence. It is important to remember that 'Its' is used to refer to something belonging to or associated with a single entity, while 'Their' is used to refer to something belonging to or associated with multiple entities. Another mistake is mispronouncing the words. It is important to remember that 'Its' is pronounced /ɪts/ and 'Their' is pronounced /ðɛr/.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. _____ size was much bigger than their size.
2. They could not tell whose was whose because _____ clothes were too similar.
3. The cat rubbed its fur against _____ legs.
4. ______ tail was longer than the tails.
5. They picked up ____ bags.
6. The students forgot _____ books.
1. Answer: Its
Explanation: The word ‘its’ is singular and refers to a single person or thing. In this sentence, the ‘its’ is referring to the size of a single item, while the ‘their’ is referring to the size of multiple items.
2. Answer: Their
Explanation: The word ‘their’ is plural and refers to multiple people or things. In this sentence, the ‘their’ is referring to the clothes of multiple people, while the ‘whose’ is referring to a single person.
3. Answer: Their
Explanation: The word ‘their’ is plural and refers to multiple people or things. In this sentence, the ‘their’ is referring to the legs of multiple people, while the ‘its’ is referring to the fur of a single cat.
4. Answer: Its
Explanation: The word ‘its’ is singular and refers to a single person or thing. In this sentence, the ‘its’ is referring to the tail of a single item, while the ‘their’ is referring to the tails of multiple items.
5. Answer: Their
Explanation: The word ‘their’ is plural and refers to several thing.s In this sentence, the ‘their’ is referring to the bags of several people.
6. Answer: thier
Explanation: In this sentence, the ‘their’ is referring to the books of many students.
Get a gift by subscribing to our newsletter!
Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.