it's versus its

[DJ Doena]

Hi,

English question:

This is not about "it's = it is" but the genitive form of "it".

When you have a proper name it has an apostrophe, e.g. "Karsten's boat".

When you use the male or female personal pronoun it's "her boat" or "his boat".

But what if the object is neutral, hence "it".

Is it "it's attributes" or "its attributes"?

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

AFAIK it's ( ):

It's for It Is
It's for the possessive
Its if it's more than one "it"

So it is "It's attributes"

[Tom]

I thought the possessive form is "its". I am always using it like this and as far as I remember it was what I learned in school.

[MEJHarrison]

Another vote for its attributes being correct.

Every Google hit on "it's vs its" backs that up.

[Alien Redrum]

"Its attributes" is correct.

It's = it is or it has
Its = possessive

[Eric]

It's a web site with its qualities and defects

http://garyes.stormloader.com/its.html

[goodguy]

Its. Also theirs.

[Dragonfire]

From what I remember, its.  I think.  I'm too tired to think right now.

[Achim]

But yes, "its".

[DJ Doena]

Thanks

[Blair]

Yes, it's its