On ACT English, its (no apostrophe) shows possession; it's (with apostrophe) always means it is or it has—if you cannot expand the word to one of those phrases, the sentence needs its. This pair appears on nearly every test because the trap is so common in real writing.
The expand-it test
- It's been a long week → It has been a long week. Apostrophe correct.
- The team lost it's momentum → it is momentum. Nonsense—use its.
- The plant dropped it's leaves → needs its(belonging to the plant).
Full apostrophe rules: apostrophes on ACT English.
Why its has no apostrophe
Possessive pronouns—his, hers, ours, yours, theirs, its—never take apostrophes. Only nouns and contractions do. That is why its looks wrong to your eye but is often the ACT answer.
ACT trap patterns
- Choices that add an apostrophe because the next word is a noun (it's results).
- NO CHANGE when the underlined its is already correct.
- Swapping its/it's without changing any other word—test meaning only.
NO CHANGE guide: ACT English NO CHANGE answers.
Quick drill
Cover the apostrophe, expand to it is or it has, and pick the form that survives the test. Pair with there, their, and they'reand pronoun agreement.
Start practicing
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