Standard English ConventionsHardIts versus it's
Standard English Conventions practice question
The company reported that ____ profits had risen for the third consecutive quarter.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
- A. itsCorrect
- B. it's
- C. its'
- D. their
Answer: A. its
The profits belong to the company, so a possessive is needed. The possessive form of 'it' is 'its', with no apostrophe.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. it's
- 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is'. 'reported that it is profits had risen' doesn't work — the sentence needs the possessive.
- C. its'
- 'its'' is not a word. The possessive 'its' never takes an apostrophe.
- D. their
- 'their' is plural, but 'the company' is a single organisation and is treated as singular.
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