"It's" is a contraction of "it is". This is a subject and verb shortened into a single syllable.
"Its" without the apostrophe is the possessive form of it. This refers to something that belongs to an object or concept that uses the pronoun "it".
If you were to use one of the spellings before a noun, the meaning of the phrase would be muddled. "It is [noun]" is a description. "Its [noun]" ascertains an attribute to the subject, direct object, or indirect object that is referred as "it".
Context may help, but not everyone has mastery of the written word that allows them to understand the intention behind one's words.
no subject
"Its" without the apostrophe is the possessive form of it. This refers to something that belongs to an object or concept that uses the pronoun "it".
If you were to use one of the spellings before a noun, the meaning of the phrase would be muddled. "It is [noun]" is a description. "Its [noun]" ascertains an attribute to the subject, direct object, or indirect object that is referred as "it".
Context may help, but not everyone has mastery of the written word that allows them to understand the intention behind one's words.
- Minimus Ambus