Here and there are adverbs that show place. We use here to refer to something close by. There shows us that something is at a distance. We also use there to show that something exists. In this posting I talk about how to use here and there. I also talk about common expressions using these adverbs. Finally, I talk about asking and answering questions using these words. There will be many example sentences. The download at the end will give you more practice using here and there.
Here is, here are
When something is close by–either in your hand, or close enough to easily reach with your hand, we say here is (or here are for plural).
- Here is (Here’s) your coat.
( I am touching it.) Use here is for a singular noun. - Here is (Here’s) a book and a pencil. (I am almost touching them). Use here is for more than one singular noun when each object is different.
- Here are (Here’re) your shoes. (They are next to me.) Use here are for a plural noun.
Answering a question with here is or here are
We can use here is and here are to answer questions of location.
- Where is my pen? Here it is. or It’s right here . Both of these are expressions used for a singular noun. to make it negative, we say, “It’s not here. .”
- Where are my glasses? Here they are. . or They’re right here. . Both are expressions used for plural nouns.
- Where is my book and my coat? Here they are. or They’re over here. . Both are expressions used with more than one singular noun, even though each noun is different. To make it negative we say. “They’re not here. .“
- Where is Bob? Here he is. . or He’s here. . Both expressions are used with a person.
- Where are Bob and Mary? Here they are. or They’re over here. Both expressions are used for more than one person.
There is, there are
We use there is or there are to talk about something that is farther away for us. It may be something that is across the room, or maybe even in the next room. It is for something that we cannot immediately touch.
- There is (There’s) my book. . (I’m pointing to it. It’s on the other side of the room.) We use there is for a singular noun. For a negative sentence, say,” My book isn’t there .”
- There is (There’s) my belt and my hat. (They are across the room.) We also use there is for more than one singular noun when each one is different. To make it negative, say, “They’re not there .”
- There are (There’re) my shoes. . (They are on the other side of the room.) There are is used for a plural noun.
- There’s Bob. . He just walked in the door on the other side of the room.) There is is for one person, there are for more than one.
Answering a question with there is, there are
We can answer questions of location with there is or there are.
- Where is your car? There it is. or It’s right there. (I’m pointing to it out the window.) or It isn’t there. These expression are used for a singular noun.
- Where are my glasses? There they are. or Over there. (They are on the other side of the room). or They’re not there. Use these expression for plural nouns.
- Where are my had and my wallet? There they are. or There right there. (Across the room). We use these expressions for more than one singular noun when each object is different.
- Where’s Ana? There she is. or She’s over there. or She’s not there. We can use there is to refer to one person and there are for more than one.
Using there is and there are to show that something exists
We can use there is and there are as general expressions to show that a noun exists. We can also ask and answer question using these words. Here are some rule for using these words along with some example sentences.
- Use there is (there’s) with a singular noun.
There is a book on the table 
. There isn’t a book on the table .
To ask a question, invert there and is.
Is there a book on the table? Yes, there is. No, there isn’t.
2. Use there is with a non-count noun.
There is some juice in the refrigerator. . There isn’t any juice in the refrigerator. .
Again, to ask a question, invert there and is.
Is there any juice in the refrigerator? Yes, there is. No, there isn’t.
3. Use there is with a series of countable, singular nous.
There’s a cup, a saucer, and a spoon on the kitchen counter. There isn’t a cup, a saucer, or a spoon on the kitchen counter .
To ask a question, again, invert there and is.
Is there a cup, a saucer, and a spoon on the kitchen counter? Yes, there is. Not, there isn’t.
4. Use there are with plural nouns.
There are three cats in my yard. . There aren’t any cats in my yard. .
There are 8 planets in the solar system. . There aren’t 8 planets in the solar system. .
To ask a question, invert there and are.
Are there any cats in your yard? Yes, there are. No, there aren’t.
You now know how to use here and there to show place. Here is and here are show that something is near by. There is and there are show that the object is at a distance. There is and there are can also be used to show that some thing exists. Here can be used to answer questions. We can use there to both ask and answer questions. The download will give you more practice using here and there.
Idioms of the day
- neither here nor there –This means to not have a strong opinion about something. I’m neither here nor there about what we do tonight. We can eat out or stay home. I don’t care.
- all there –This means to have all of your intelligence and to use it. He keeps telling me that 2 +2 +6. I don’t think he’s all there.
