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Here and there

Here and there are adverbs.

Here and there: meanings​

When we use here, it typically refers to the place where the speaker is, and we see the position of people and things from the speaker’s point of view:

  • Do you want to stay here or go to another restaurant?
  • Could you come here and help me for a minute?

When we use there, it typically refers to the place where the listener or another person is, and we see the position of people and things from the listener’s or another person’s point of view:

  • Our son Jim’s living in Barcelona. He wants us to go there for a holiday.
  • A: Where’s my cup of tea?
  • B: It’s there, next to you, on the little table!

Here and there with this, that, these, those (demonstratives)​

We often use here with nouns that have this or these before them, and there with nouns that have that or those before them:

  • Are these shoes here yours?
  • You press that button there and the motor should start.

Here and there with bring and take​

We often use here with bring and there with take:

  • Bring your glass here and I’ll give you some juice.
  • This package has to go to the post room. Would you take it there for me, please?
See also
  • Bring, take and fetch
  • Go and, come and

Here and there after prepositions​

We can use here and there after prepositions:

  • Is there a bank around here?
  • It’s cold in here. Shut that door!
  • A: Where shall I put this box of books?
  • B: Oh, put it over there, please, by the bookshelf.

Here and there in front position​

We can use here and there in front position, with the subject and verb inverted. The most common expressions of this type are here is x, here comes x, there is x, there goes x:

  • A: Here’s the CD I said I’d lend you, the Brazilian music.
  • B: Oh, thanks.
  • Here comes your taxi*, so we’d better say bye bye now.*
  • [pointing to a shop across the street]
  • There’s the shop where I bought those black shoes you liked.
  • Oh look, there goes Freda on a bike. I didn’t know she had one!

When the subject is a pronoun, we do not invert the subject and verb:

  • A: Where’s the tin opener?
  • B: There it is, on the sink.
  • Not: There is it, on the sink.

Here you are, there you are​

We can use here you are and there you are (or, in informal situations, here you go and there you go) when giving something to someone. Here and there have the same meaning in this use:

  • A: Did you get my newspaper?
  • B: Yes. Here you are. [gives it to A]
  • A: Can you pass me that dictionary?
  • B: There you go. [gives A the dictionary]
  • A: Thank you.

Here it is! There he is​

We often use here + subject pronoun + be and there + subject pronoun + be at the moment of finding or meeting someone or something we have been looking for or waiting for:

  • A: Has anyone seen my pen?
  • B: Here it is, right by the phone.
  • Simon! There you are! Everyone’s waiting for you!

Here I am​

People often say that they have arrived or that someone else has arrived using here + subject pronoun + be:

  • A: Hello! Here we are! I hope we haven’t missed lunch?
  • B: Hello. No, you’re right on time.

Here: on the telephone​

People often use here to identify themselves on the telephone or in voicemail messages:

  • A: Hi, Rex, Julia here. How are you?
  • B: Julia, hi. Fine, thanks. And you?
See also
  • Telephoning

Hello there​

We often use there in informal situations after hello and hi:

  • A: Hello there. How’s things?
  • B: Hi there. Fine. How are you? (How’s things? is something that we say in informal contexts but we don’t write it. How are things? is less informal.)