Practice
Its, it's, your, or you're? Choose the right spelling
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Choose its and your before a noun, and choose it's or you're when the words mean it is, it has, or you are.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
its / it's; your / you're /ɪts/; /jɔː(r)/
The short answer
Use its or your before a noun. Use it's when you can say it is or it has. Use you're when you can say you are.
Your tablet has its charger because it's ready, and you're ready to leave.
Why it works: Your tablet and its charger name things. It's ready means it is ready. You're ready means you are ready.
5 more examples
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The cafe changed its opening hours because it's closed today.
The opening hours belong to the cafe, so use its.
Not this:The cafe
is closedtoday. What changes: It's closed means it is closed. -
Your bag is under the chair, and you're late for class.
Bag is the noun connected with you, so use your.
Not this:
You arelate for class. What changes: You're late means you are late. -
The printer has its own number, but it's not connected to the network.
The number belongs to the printer, so use its.
Not this:
It isnot connected to the network. What changes: It's not means it is not. -
Your train leaves at six, so you're early.
Train is the noun connected with you, so use your.
Not this:
You areearly. What changes: You're early means you are early. -
The building has its own entrance, and it's been closed since Monday.
The entrance belongs to the building, so use its.
Not this:
It has beenclosed since Monday. What changes: It's been means it has been.
Read the full guide
First, look for a noun after the word. A noun such as bag, plan, or name often needs its or your. If there is no noun after the word, try the full words it is, it has, or you are.
Look for the noun after its or your
Use its or your before a noun. Its tells you that something belongs to it. Your tells you that something belongs to the person you are speaking to.
The rabbit cleaned its ears.
Your keys are on the table.
Ears belong to the rabbit. Keys belong to you.
Expand it's and you're
It's and you're are short forms. Replace it's with it is or it has. Replace you're with you are. If the full words make sense, the short form is correct.
It's cold outside.
It is cold outside is the full sentence.
You're doing well today.
You are doing well today is the full sentence.
Choose the person in the sentence
Use it's when the sentence is about it. Use you're when the sentence is about you. The word after the short form can help, but the full-word test is better.
It's useful to save the address.
You're useful when you check the details.
The first sentence means it is useful. The second means you are useful.
Use it's for it has too
Sometimes it's means it has, not it is. This often happens before a past form such as been, finished, or started.
It's been a busy morning.
It has been a busy morning is the full form.
Do not use it's to show that a noun belongs to it. Use its before the noun instead.
Write are you in questions
In a statement, you can write you're ready. In a question, are comes first: Are you ready? Do not write you're when you need the question order.
You're ready for the meeting.
Are you ready for the meeting?
The words change order because the second sentence is a question.
Check the apostrophe before you finish
Use an apostrophe in it's and you're because they are short forms. Do not add one to its or your. Standard English has no word written as its'.
Choose the four forms: The app changed ___ name. ___ ready for ___ update because ___ working again.
Write its, It's, its, and it's. Name and update belong to the app. The two short forms both mean it is.
Before you go
Remember this
Before a noun, choose its for it and your for you. For a short form, test it's with it is or it has, and test you're with you are. In questions, use are you.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Its, it's, your, or you're? Choose the right spelling"
What is the difference between its and it's?
Its comes before a noun to show that something belongs to it, as in its address. It's is a short form of it is or it has. Try the full words. If it is or it has works, write it's.
The cafe changed its opening hours because it's closed today.
What is the difference between your and you're?
Your comes before a noun connected with the person you are speaking to, as in your passport. You're is the short form of you are. In You're early, the full form is You are early.
The cafe is closed today.
How can I choose between its, it's, your, and you're?
First, look for a noun after the word. Use its for a thing or animal and your for the listener. If there is no noun, test it's with it is or it has, and test you're with you are.
Your bag is under the chair, and you're late for class.
Can it's mean it has?
Yes. It's can mean it has before a past form. For example, It's been a long day means It has been a long day. It can also mean it is, as in It's cold outside.
You are late for class.
Is its' correct in standard English?
No. Standard English does not use its' for possession. Write its before a noun, as in its name. Use it's only when you can replace it with it is or it has.
The printer has its own number, but it's not connected to the network.