What does the word it's abbreviate?

Answer 1

The word it's stands for it is. For example, "It's nice to see you."

Be VERY careful not to confuse it's with the lookalike, soundalike word its. That word is the possessive form of "it"; i.e. "belonging to it". Possessive pronouns (its, his, hers, yours, theirs, etc.) are the only major exception to the rule in English that possessives have an apostrophe.

If you're not sure which word to use, just remember that it's is the contraction for it is. If the sentence also makes sense when you write it using it is, then it's is correct. If the sentence doesn't make any sense with it is, then use its:

• Which is right? Its time to go, or It'stime to go?

  "It is time to go" is also correct, so use It's

• Which is right? The dog ate its food, or The dog ate it's food?

  "The dog ate it is food" is not valid English, so use its (the food belongs to the dog).