這是 IELTS 考官改 Writing Task 2 時看到最多的錯誤之一——而且不分 Band。Band 8 的考生也會錯。原因？英文的 its 跟 it\'s 違反了所有格的「正常規則」。

為什麼這個錯這麼難避免

英文所有格通常加 ’s：

  • the dog’s tail ✓
  • Mary’s book ✓

所以邏輯上 it + 所有格 = it’s，對吧？錯。it’s 已經被「it is / it has」用掉了，所以「它的」只能是 its （沒有撇號）。

| 寫法 | 意思 | 範例 | |------|------|------| | its | 它的 (所有格) | The cat licked its paw. | | it’s | it is / it has (縮寫) | It’s raining. / It’s been three years. |

為什麼是 Taiwanese 特有錯誤

中文沒有撇號這個概念。台灣考生看到 its / it’s 兩個都唸 /ɪts/——筆下要寫哪一個全憑感覺，正確率約 50%。

6 個 ❌ vs ✅ 對比

| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | |---------|-----------| | The company increased it’s profits. | The company increased its profits. | | Its raining heavily today. | It’s raining heavily today. | | The book has lost it’s cover. | The book has lost its cover. | | Its been a long week. | It’s been a long week. | | Every country has it’s own culture. | Every country has its own culture. | | Its important to revise. | It’s important to revise. |

一秒檢查法

寫到 its / it’s 時，把它**換成 it is 或 *it has***——

  • 通：用 it’s (有撇號)
  • 不通：用 its (無撇號)

範例：

  • The dog wagged \\_\\_\\_ tail. → The dog wagged it is tail (X) → 用 its
  • \\_\\_\\_ been a long day. → It has been a long day (✓) → 用 it’s

Quick Drill — 填入 its 或 it’s

  1. _____ going to rain soon.
  2. The bird returned to _____ nest.
  3. _____ the best book I’ve ever read.
  4. Each species has _____ own habitat.
  5. _____ been raining all morning.
  6. The country is famous for _____ beaches.
  7. _____ important to drink water.
  8. The phone lost _____ signal.

Answer Key

| # | 答案 | 還原 | |---|------|------| | 1 | It’s | = It is going to rain | | 2 | its | 鳥的巢，所有格 | | 3 | It’s | = It is the best book | | 4 | its | 物種的棲地，所有格 | | 5 | It’s | = It has been raining | | 6 | its | 國家的海灘，所有格 | | 7 | It’s | = It is important | | 8 | its | 手機的訊號，所有格 |

記住這一條

有撇號 = 縮寫 = 換成 it is 或 it has 句子要通。寫完一段檢查每個 its / it’s——5 秒動作保住 Band 7。

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