It vs. Itself — What's the Difference?
Difference Between It and Itself
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Compare with Definitions
It
An animal that has been neutered
The cat is an it.
Itself
(reflexive pronoun) it; A thing as the object of a verb or preposition that also appears as the subject
The door closed by itself
It
The third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to an inanimate object, abstract entity, or non-human living thing.
Take this book and put it on the shelf.
Take each day as it comes.
I found a poor little cat. It seems to be half starving.
Itself
(emphatic) it; used to intensify the subject, especially to emphasize that it is the only participant in the predicate
The door itself is quite heavy.
It
A third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to a baby or child, especially of unknown gender.
She took the baby and held it in her arms.
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Itself
It; used to refer back to an earlier subject
It
(obsolete) An affectionate third-person singular personal pronoun.
Itself
The neuter reflexive pronoun of It; as, the thing is good in itself; it stands by itself.
Borrowing of foreigners, in itself, makes not the kingdom rich or poor.
It
A third-person singular personal pronoun used to refer to an animate referent who is transgender or is neither female nor male.
It
Used to refer to someone being identified, often on the phone, but not limited to this situation.
It's me. John.
Is it her?
It is I, your king.
It
The impersonal pronoun, used without referent as the subject of an impersonal verb or statement (known as the dummy pronoun, dummy it or weather it).
It is nearly 10 o’clock.
It’s 10:45.
It’s very cold today.
It’s lonely without you.
It
The impersonal pronoun, used without referent, or with unstated but contextually implied referent, in various short idioms or expressions.
Rough it
Live it up
Stick it out
It
Referring to a desirable quality or ability, or quality of being successful, fashionable or in vogue.
After all these years, she still has it.
It
Referring to sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.
I caught them doing it.
Are you getting it regularly?
It
(uncountable) Sex appeal, especially that which goes beyond physical appearance.
It
The impersonal pronoun, used as a placeholder for a delayed subject, or less commonly, object; known as the dummy pronoun (according to some definitions), anticipatory it or, more formally in linguistics, a syntactic expletive. The delayed subject is commonly a to-infinitive, a gerund, or a noun clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
It
All or the end; something after which there is no more.
Are there more students in this class, or is this it?
That's it—I'm not going to any more candy stores with you.
It
(obsolete) Followed by an omitted and understood relative pronoun: That which; what.
It
(obsolete) Its.
It
One who is neither a he nor a she; a creature; a dehumanized being.
It
The person who chases and tries to catch the other players in the playground game of tag.
In the next game, Adam and Tom will be it…
It
The game of tag.
Let's play it at breaktime.
It
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It
(colloquial) Most fashionable, popular, or in vogue.
It
The neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the same plural (they, their or theirs, them).
The day present hath ever inough to do with it owne grief.
Do, child, go to it grandam, child.
It knighthood shall do worse. It shall fright all it friends with borrowing letters.
The fruit tree yielding fruit after his (its) kind.
It
As a substance for any noun of the neuter gender; as, here is the book, take it home.
It
As a demonstrative, especially at the beginning of a sentence, pointing to that which is about to be stated, named, or mentioned, or referring to that which apparent or well known; as, I saw it was John.
It is I; be not afraid.
Peter heard that it was the Lord.
It
As an indefinite nominative for a impersonal verb; as, it snows; it rains.
It
As a substitute for such general terms as, the state of affairs, the condition of things, and the like; as, how is it with the sick man?
Think on me when it shall be well with thee.
It
As an indefinite object after some intransitive verbs, or after a substantive used humorously as a verb; as, to foot it (i. e., to walk).
The Lacedemonians, at the Straits of Thermopylæ, when their arms failed them, fought it out with nails and teeth.
Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it,If folly grows romantic, I must paint it.
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