its
それの
解説 Definition
物・動物・組織などが所有するものや、それらに属する性質を示し、名詞の前に置く。
Used before a noun to show that something belongs to or is associated with a thing, animal, organization, or other entity referred to as “it.” It identifies the possessor without indicating human gender.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
it「それ」に所有を示す -s が付いた形と捉え、its name「その名前」、its color「その色」のように名詞と組み合わせて覚えると定着しやすい。人には通常 his や her、複数には their を使う。アポストロフィーのある it's は it is／it has の短縮形なので、書くときは置き換えられるか確認するとよい。
Think of its as the possessive form connected with it: “its name,” “its color,” and “its value” all describe something belonging to or associated with a single thing, animal, or organization. Use his or her for a person when gender is relevant, and their for plural possessors. The crucial spelling contrast is its versus it’s. Its has no apostrophe and shows possession; it’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” When writing, test whether “it is” or “it has” fits the sentence. If neither works and a following noun belongs to it, choose its.
例文
The dog moved its tail.
その犬はしっぽを動かした。
The company changed its name.
その会社は社名を変更した。
The house has lost its value.
その家は価値が下がった。
its の語源・成り立ち Etymology
its は中性代名詞 it の所有格です。古くは his が中性にも使われましたが、16世紀末ごろから it に所有を示す語尾 -s を加えた its が現れ、17世紀に広く定着しました。it's は it is または it has の短縮形で、別の語です。
Its developed as the possessive form of the neuter pronoun it. Earlier English could use his for neuter as well as masculine reference, but a distinct form became useful after the older grammatical gender system declined. Its appeared around the end of the sixteenth century, created from it with the possessive ending -s, and became common during the seventeenth century. It must be distinguished from it’s, the contraction of “it is” or “it has.”
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