Question on 'its' as a possesive adjective and pronoun.

[learning54]

Hi teachers,
If we are talking about the bowl of a cat are these sentences correct?
Is this its plate? Yes, it is its plate.
Is this its? Yes it is its.

Thanks in advance.

 

[5jj]

Is this its? Yes it is its.

That is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely. We'd be more likely to say just, "Yes (, it is)".

 

[learning54]

That is theoretically possible, but highly unlikely. We'd be more likely to say just, "Yes (, it is)".

Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
So 'its' as a possessive pronoun exists, but it is better to use it as a possessive adjective. Right?

 

[Raymott]

Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
So 'its' as a possessive pronoun exists, but it is better to use it as a possessive adjective. Right?

I'd never use it, and I can't think of a good use for 'its' as a pronoun. It's better to use the noun.
"This is your plate. It's yours." Good
"This is the cat's plate. It's its." Terrible
"This is the cat's plate. It's the cat's." Good.

 

[learning54]

I'd never use it, and I can't think of a good use for 'its' as a pronoun. It's better to use the noun.
"This is your plate. It's yours." Good
"This is the cat's plate. It's its." Terrible
"This is the cat's plate. It's the cat's." Good.

Hi Raymott,
Thank you for your reply.
That's what I thought. To use 'its' as a pronoun sounds really bad. But it exists, doesn't it?
It is much better to say, 'This is the cat's plate. It is its plate'. Right?

 

[Raymott]

Hi Raymott,
Thank you for your reply.
That's what I thought. To use 'its' as a pronoun sounds really bad. But it exists, doesn't it?
It is much better to say, 'This is the cat's plate. It is its plate'. Right?

No, that's not much better. That is the point I was trying to make. Use the noun.
As 5jj says, it exists in theory - both the pronoun and the adjective. The pronoun is (almost) never used.
The adjective can be used when it's not stressed, or when you're not identifying something.
"Put the food on its plate." Good
"The plate is its." Terrible
"It is its plate." Awful.
"It is the cat's plate." Good
"Is this plate yours or the cat's? It's my plate. (It's mine)" Good
"Is this plate yours or the cat's? It's it's plate." Horrible.

If any native speaker does use its in this context, I'd be interested to know.

 

[learning54]

Hi Raymott,
Thank YOU for your reply. It is very clear now. No further questions at this point.

Best,
L54

 

[SoothingDave]

No, that's not much better. That is the point I was trying to make. Use the noun.
As 5jj says, it exists in theory - both the pronoun and the adjective. The pronoun is (almost) never used.
The adjective can be used when it's not stressed, or when you're not identifying something.
"Put the food on its plate." Good
"The plate is its." Terrible
"It is its plate." Awful.
"It is the cat's plate." Good
"Is this plate yours or the cat's? It's my plate. (It's mine)" Good
"Is this plate yours or the cat's? It's it's plate." Horrible.

If any native speaker does use its in this context, I'd be interested to know.

Usually we refer to the cat as "he" or "she," so we might say "It's his plate."

I agree that "It's its" sounds unnatural.

 

[learning54]

Usually we refer to the cat as "he" or "she," so we might say "It's his plate."

I agree that "It's its" sounds unnatural.

Hi,
Thank you for you reply.

 

[Raymott]

Usually we refer to the cat as "he" or "she," so we might say "It's his plate."

That's true. But all my points remain the same. Make it a book instead of a cat.
"Whose title is this? It's the book's title. It's the book's." Good
"Whose title is this? It's its title." Woeful.
"Whose title is this? It's its." Execrable.