its

UK: ɪts | US: ɪts

Definition

  1. adj. belonging to or associated with a thing previously mentioned or easily identified

Structure
it <third-person singular pronoun>'s <possessive suffix>
Etymology

The word "its" emerged in Middle English (late 16th century) as the neuter possessive form of "it," replacing the older "his" for inanimate objects. The suffix "-s" was borrowed from the genitive case in Old English (e.g., "his," "her"), but "its" avoided gender association. This development reflects grammatical precision in distinguishing animate vs. inanimate possession.

Examples

  1. The cat licked its paws.

  2. The tree shed its leaves in autumn.

  3. The phone automatically updates its software.

  4. The company revised its policy.

  5. The robot charged its battery overnight.