Its vs That
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Its | That | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Belonging to it. | used to refer to a specific thing or person |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | determiner | determiner |
| Usage notes | Used to show that something belongs to an object or animal. Make sure not to confuse it with 'it's' (it is). | Used to refer to something already mentioned or known. In spoken English, it's often used informally. Be careful not to use it in overly formal writing where specificity is needed. |
Frequently asked questions: Its vs That
What's the difference between "Its" and "That"?
"Its" means: Belonging to it. "That" means: used to refer to a specific thing or person
When should I use "Its" and "That"?
They can all be used in everyday English.
Are "Its" and "That" the same CEFR level?
"Its" is at A1, "That" is at A1 on the CEFR scale.