---
title: Identify the principal distinction between «its» and «it's». — Homophones and near-homophones · tree and pragmatics
description: Identify the principal distinction between «its» and «it's». Exam question 3 of lesson 11 «Homophones and near-homophones» of the English course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmatics of the question and of each option; Mova's choice was wrong.
---

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# Exam question 3 · Homophones and near-homophones

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Identify the principal distinction between «its» and «it's».

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 3 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** you, distinction · **What happens:** identify, be · **To what, where:** principal distinction

<!-- .vabout -->
This is exam question 3 of lesson 11 «Homophones and near-homophones» of the English course of Mova's primary school, asked in stiff, formal language. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/english/11-homophones-and-near-homophones/#e3).

## The question {#question}

```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:e3:1
# text = Identify the principal distinction between «its» and «it's».
1	Identify	identify	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	principal	principal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	distinction	distinction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	between	between	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	1	punct	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	's	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **identify** | imperative | you *not said here* | the principal distinction |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent distinction=Theme |
| 2 | **be** *in a quote* | present | distinction |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«It's» denotes possession, whereas «its» is a contraction of «it is»

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:e3:o1:1
# text = «It's» denotes possession, whereas «its» is a contraction of «it is»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	denotes	denote	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
8	whereas	whereas	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	10	advmod	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nmod	_	_
18	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | It | possession |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | possession's contraction |  |  |  | of possession | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** *in a quote* | present | possession |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Its» is the British form and «it's» the American form of the same word

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:e3:o2:1
# text = «Its» is the British form and «it's» the American form of the same word
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	American	American	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Its *= it* | the British form and the American form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | it | the American form |  |  |  | of the same word | tree rules |

### Option 3 · ✓ the right answer {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Its» denotes possession, whereas «it's» is a contraction of «it is» or «it has»

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:e3:o3:1
# text = «Its» denotes possession, whereas «it's» is a contraction of «it is» or «it has»
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	denotes	denote	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	possession	possession	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
7	whereas	whereas	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	contraction	contraction	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
15	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	23	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
21	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	23	nsubj	_	_
23	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **denote** | present | Its *= it* | possession |  |  |  |  | vn indicate-78 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot possession=Topic |
| 2 | **is a** | present | possession | a contraction |  |  |  | whereas *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** *in a quote* | present | possession |  |  |  |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | present | possession |  |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The two forms are interchangeable in all written English, whether formal or informal, and in all countries

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:english:11-homophones-and-near-homophones:e3:o4:1
# text = The two forms are interchangeable in all written English, whether formal or informal, and in all countries
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nummod	_	_
3	forms	form	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	interchangeable	interchangeable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	9	det	_	_
8	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	whether	whether	SCONJ	IN	_	12	mark	_	_
12	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	19	det	_	_
19	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the two forms |  |  | all written English |  | interchangeable *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

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**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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