"These" or "its"?

Hello Wholegrain,

It's better if you try to answer it yourself first - then we'll comment on your answer.

Best wishes,

MrP

Hiya Wholegrain,

'its' is a term of ownership, meaning you could use it an a sentence such as 'France has the most deprived toilets in Europe due to its public services being deficient'. It is appropriate in this case to use 'these' as it is more specific and because 'public' is a term of general ownership. So, 'these' would fit better.

Hope it helps mate,

Public bathrooms need better maintenance. Due to not enough funding, its public services are deficient.

But I think it should have been "installations" rather than "services".

But I think both are correct.

Just as an aside, some would consider your use of "due to" incorrect, and insist it be replaced by "because of."

The traditional use of "due to" is: (noun + being verb + "due to").

The poor condition of public toilets is due to a lack of funding.

I think its and these are both correct, but coveys different ideas. I don't think services is correct though, but I am not sure because "water supply network" is considered as a public service.

I think "accomodations" and "installations" are 100% correct. But I am not sure whether services is.

I think "accomodations" and "installations" are 100% correct. But I am not sure whether "services" is.

Hello Wholegrain,

Think of it like this:

If the answer is "its", you need to find the noun to which "its" refers. "Its" is singular, so that would be a singular noun. The only options are "funding" and "maintenance", which would imply:

1. Maintenance's public services are deficient

2. Funding's public services are deficient

If the answer is "these", yo

Oh, I made a mistake. I just wrote the text off my head without thinking enough. But I meant the government's public service!

Thank you.

Do you agree that "public services" is correct?