[ti:It's and Its] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.92]This week we answer a question from Ali in Iran. [00:07.08]He wrote to us after reading a previous Ask a Teacher [00:10.56]about security and safety. [00:14.20]Dear VOA, [00:15.72]Could you explain the grammar related to the word "its" in this sentence? [00:20.60]Security often has to do with a group's efforts [00:25.56]to protect its members from harm. Ali, Iran. [00:29.52]Dear Ali, [00:30.68]Thank you for writing to us. [00:32.68]In the sentence you read, the word "its" is a possessive adjective [00:38.96]meaning "belonging to it." [00:41.36]And the "it" in this sentence is the group. [00:45.68]Other possessive adjectives are words like "his, [00:48.88]her, my, your, our and their." [00:53.16]These words appear before a noun, [00:55.56]like most adjectives in English, [00:57.68]and change the meaning of the noun. [01:01.08]Here is another example of how to use "its." [01:05.08]I cannot drive that car. Its tires are flat. [01:11.68]The Queen wears a beautiful crown. [01:15.04]Its jewels shine in the sun. [01:19.92]We can use words like "its" to take the place of a noun, as in this example: [01:26.20]I have large eyes and so does my dog. [01:30.40]Mine are blue and its are brown. [01:35.44]Many English learners confuse the possessive form "its" [01:39.12]with the short form "it's." [01:43.52]The short form "it's" is what we call a contraction. [01:48.64]"It's" can be the short form of the words "it is" or "it has." [01:55.00]Here are some examples where "it's" is the short form of "it is." [02:01.20]It's great to see you again! [02:04.08]I think it's time for dinner. [02:07.96]Compare these sentences with "it's" as the short form of "it has." [02:14.48]It's been years since I met with my high school friends. [02:20.24]With daily practice, it's gotten easier for them to speak English. [02:27.48]I hope this helps you understand the different ways we use "its," Ali. [02:32.08]And that's Ask a Teacher. [02:35.16]What question do you have about American English? [02:38.36]Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com [02:44.52]I'm Jill Robbins. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM