Here is and here are are both correct English expressions. The choice depends mainly on the noun or noun phrase that follows. Use here is with a singular noun or an uncountable noun, and use here are with a plural noun. For example, “Here is the document” is correct, while “Here are the documents” is correct. The word here does not determine whether the verb should be singular or plural.
Quick Answer
Use here is when you are introducing one person, one thing, or an uncountable noun: “Here is your ticket” or “Here is some information.” Use here are when you are introducing two or more countable things: “Here are your tickets.” The key is to identify the noun that the verb agrees with. Although the noun comes after is or are, it still controls the verb form.
What Is the Difference Between Here Is and Here Are?
Here is and here are are introductory expressions used to point out, present, give, or draw attention to someone or something. The important difference is grammatical number.
Here is normally introduces a singular noun or an uncountable noun:
- Here is your phone.
- Here is the report.
- Here is some information.
Here are normally introduces a plural noun:
- Here are your phones.
- Here are the reports.
- Here are some important details.
Cambridge describes here as an adverb and notes that it can appear at the beginning of a statement to introduce someone or something. In this construction, the subject can appear after the verb, which is one reason learners sometimes find the structure confusing.
Why It Matters
The difference is small, but it matters because is and are must agree with the grammatical number of the subject. A sentence such as “Here is the files” combines a singular verb with a plural noun, creating an agreement error.
These mistakes can appear in everyday speech, emails, reports, presentations, assignments, instructions, and professional communication. In careful writing, choosing the correct form makes the sentence clearer and more polished.
Compare:
- Here is the final report. — one report
- Here are the final reports. — more than one report
The Core Rule
Look past the word “here” and identify the noun being introduced.
Singular or uncountable noun → here is
Plural noun → here are
Think of the structure as a rearranged version of an ordinary sentence:
- The document is here. → Here is the document.
- The documents are here. → Here are the documents.
The word order changes, but the subject–verb relationship does not. The same principle applies when the noun phrase is longer:
Here are the documents that you requested yesterday.
The important noun is documents, which is plural, so are is required.
How to Use Here Is
With a Singular Countable Noun
Use here is when one countable person or thing is being presented.
- Here is your appointment letter.
- Here is my new laptop.
- Here is the key you were looking for.
- Here is the student who won the competition.
With an Uncountable Noun
Uncountable nouns are treated grammatically as singular. Common examples include information, advice, equipment, furniture, research, money, and news.
- Here is some information about the course.
- Here is the advice you requested.
- Here is the equipment we need.
- Here is some useful research on the subject.
The fact that an uncountable noun can refer to many pieces or details does not make the noun grammatically plural. English treats these nouns as uncountable, so they normally take singular agreement.
With a Singular Idea or Reason
Here is can also introduce a singular abstract noun or idea.
- Here is the reason for the delay.
- Here is the main problem.
- Here is one possible solution.
- Here is the answer to your question.
How to Use Here Are
With Plural Nouns
Use here are when the noun that follows is plural.
- Here are your keys.
- Here are the files you requested.
- Here are three possible answers.
- Here are the students waiting outside.
With Multiple People
Use here are when introducing more than one person.
- Here are my parents.
- Here are the new employees.
- Here are our guests.
- Here are the people we invited.
With Plural Noun Phrases
The noun may be followed by a long modifier, but the same rule applies.
Here are the invoices from last month’s orders.
The complete noun phrase is “the invoices from last month’s orders.” The head noun is invoices, which is plural, so are is appropriate.
Correct Examples
- Conversation: Here is your coffee.
- Conversation: Here are the keys you left on the table.
- Email: Here is the document you requested.
- Email: Here are the updated files for your review.
- School: Here is the answer to question five.
- School: Here are the notes from today’s lesson.
- Workplace: Here is the final version of the proposal.
- Workplace: Here are the figures from this quarter.
- Social media: Here are some photos from our trip.
- Academic writing: Here is one explanation for the observed result.
- Customer service: Here is your order number.
- Presentation: Here are the three main findings from the survey.
Incorrect vs. Correct
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Here is the documents. | Here are the documents. | Documents is plural, so it needs are. |
| Here are the report. | Here is the report. | Report is singular, so it takes is. |
| Here are some information. | Here is some information. | Information is an uncountable noun and takes singular agreement. |
| Here is your keys. | Here are your keys. | Keys is plural. |
| Here are the answer. | Here is the answer. | Answer is singular. |
| Here is three reasons. | Here are three reasons. | Reasons is plural. |
| Here are the equipment we ordered. | Here is the equipment we ordered. | Equipment is normally uncountable. |
| Here is the results. | Here are the results. | Results is plural. |
| Here are my new phone. | Here is my new phone. | Phone is singular. |
| Here is the answers to your questions. | Here are the answers to your questions. | Answers is plural. |
| Here are some advice. | Here is some advice. | Advice is uncountable in standard English. |
| Here is two options. | Here are two options. | Options is plural. |
Why People Make This Mistake
The Subject Comes After the Verb
In a typical English sentence, the subject often appears before the verb: “The files are here.” With the introductory structure, the order changes: “Here are the files.” Because the noun comes after the verb, learners may choose is automatically without checking the noun.
The Word “Here” Looks Important
Because here appears first, learners may mistakenly think it controls the verb. It does not determine singular or plural agreement in this construction. Cambridge identifies here as an adverb and describes its use at the beginning of statements to introduce or point out someone or something.
Speech Happens Quickly
In conversation, speakers often use contractions and produce familiar phrases very quickly. This can make forms such as “here’s” sound natural even when the following noun is plural. Usage discussions note that plural forms with here’s occur in everyday speech, although careful writing generally maintains agreement.
See Also: Inter vs Intra: What Is the Difference?
Translation Interference
Some languages organize introductory or presentational sentences differently from English. Learners may therefore transfer a familiar sentence pattern into English. The safest approach is not to translate the entire structure word for word. Instead, identify the English noun and check whether it is singular, uncountable, or plural.
Spellcheck Does Not Always Help
Grammar and spelling tools may detect some agreement errors, but automated checking is not a substitute for understanding the sentence. A sentence such as “Here is the files” contains correctly spelled words. The problem is their grammatical relationship.
Common Mistakes Checklist
- Using “here is” before every noun: Check whether the noun is plural before choosing the verb.
- Ignoring an uncountable noun: Words such as information and advice normally take singular agreement.
- Being distracted by a modifier: In “Here are the files from yesterday,” files is the key noun.
- Thinking “here” controls the verb: Focus on the noun being introduced.
- Copying conversational speech into formal writing: Spoken patterns can be less careful than edited written English.
- Confusing “here’s” with “here are”: Here’s is the contraction of here is, not here are.
Here Is and Here Are in Real English
“Here is the answer” — grammatically correct and natural
“Here is the answer” is a normal way to present or point out one answer. It works in conversation, teaching, email, customer service, presentations, and writing. The singular noun answer matches is. It can also be contracted naturally as “Here’s the answer,” particularly in conversation and less formal writing.
“Here are the answers” — grammatically correct and natural
“Here are the answers” is the straightforward plural counterpart to “Here is the answer.” It is natural when presenting multiple answers, documents, items, people, or other plural nouns. The construction is common in instructions, emails, classroom explanations, presentations, and everyday conversation. There is no need to avoid here are simply because the phrase sounds slightly more formal than its singular counterpart.
“Here’s the answers” — common in speech, but avoid it in careful writing
“Here’s the answers” can be heard in informal spoken English, but here’s literally represents here is, while answers is plural. For standard edited writing, “Here are the answers” is the safer choice. The widespread spoken form is useful to recognize, but learners should not treat its frequency in conversation as a reason to use it in formal writing.
“Here is some information” — grammatically correct and natural
This construction is completely normal because information is uncountable in standard English. Even if the information contains many facts, the noun itself remains grammatically singular. Therefore, “Here is some information” is correct. Do not change is to are simply because the information contains several individual pieces of knowledge.
“Here is the list” vs. “Here are the items” — both can be natural
The choice depends on what you are introducing. “Here is the list” treats list as one object. “Here are the items” treats the individual items as the subject. This distinction is useful when a phrase contains a collective or container noun followed by a plural noun. Compare the noun that directly controls the verb rather than focusing only on the number of things ultimately mentioned.
American vs. British English
There is no major American-versus-British difference in the basic rule. Standard English in both varieties uses here is with singular or uncountable nouns and here are with plural nouns.
The main variation you may notice concerns informal spoken usage, especially contractions such as “here’s” before a plural noun. Such usage occurs in real speech, but it is not the best model for careful formal writing.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Here is and here are are both neutral expressions and can be used in formal and informal contexts.
- Formal: Here is the report requested by the committee.
- Professional: Here are the revised documents for your review.
- Academic: Here is one possible explanation for the result.
- Informal: Here is your coffee.
- Informal: Here are your keys.
The main register issue is not here is versus here are. Instead, careful writing should avoid using informal plural “here’s” where standard subject–verb agreement calls for “here are.”
Here Is vs. Here Are Comparison Table
| Feature | Here Is | Here Are |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Singular | Plural |
| Uncountable nouns | Yes | No |
| Typical meaning | Introduces or presents one thing | Introduces or presents multiple things |
| Example | Here is the file. | Here are the files. |
| People | Here is my brother. | Here are my brothers. |
| Information | Here is some information. | Not standard: Here are some information. |
| Common contraction | Here’s | No standard equivalent commonly used in writing |
Special Cases You Should Know
Here Is the Sack of Potatoes
Consider the difference between “Here are the potatoes” and “Here is the sack of potatoes.” In the first sentence, potatoes is the noun being presented, so the plural verb are is appropriate. In the second, sack is the subject of the noun phrase, and potatoes merely describes what is inside the sack. Therefore, is is correct.
Here Is One Reason, Here Are Several Reasons
Quantity words can make the correct form obvious:
- Here is one reason.
- Here are several reasons.
- Here is another example.
- Here are several examples.
Here Is What I Mean
Expressions beginning with “Here is what…” are common and natural. For example, “Here is what I mean” is correct. The structure is not simply followed by a normal singular noun; what introduces a clause. This is one reason why learners should not reduce every “here is” sentence to a simple one-noun pattern.
Here Are the Main Reasons
“Here are the main reasons” is correct because reasons is plural. The same structure appears frequently in explanations and lists: “Here are the main steps,” “Here are the key points,” and “Here are the results.”
Real-Life Situations
In an Interview
“Here is my résumé” is appropriate when handing one résumé to an interviewer. If you are presenting several documents, say, “Here are the documents you requested.”
In a Meeting
A presenter might say, “Here are the three main issues we need to discuss.” Because issues is plural, are is required.
In an Email
For one attachment or document, write: “Here is the report you requested.” For several attachments, write: “Here are the files from yesterday’s meeting.”
In a Text Message
In casual conversation, you might write, “Here’s the photo.” For multiple photos in careful standard English, write, “Here are the photos.”
In an Exam
If you need to introduce one answer, use “Here is my answer.” If you are introducing several answers, use “Here are my answers.”
A Simple Way to Remember the Rule
Use this three-step test whenever you hesitate:
- Ignore “here” temporarily.
- Find the noun being introduced.
- Match the verb to that noun.
For example:
Here ___ the reports from yesterday.
The noun is reports. It is plural, so the answer is are.
Here ___ the report from yesterday.
The noun is report. It is singular, so the answer is is.
Practice Quiz
Choose is or are.
- Here ___ your new password.
- Here ___ the documents you requested.
- Here ___ some useful information.
- Here ___ my two brothers.
- Here ___ the final answer.
- Here ___ three reasons for the decision.
- Here ___ the equipment for the experiment.
- Here ___ the results of the survey.
- Here ___ another example.
- Here ___ several examples.
Answers
- is — password is singular.
- are — documents is plural.
- is — information is uncountable.
- are — brothers is plural.
- is — answer is singular.
- are — reasons is plural.
- is — equipment is uncountable.
- are — results is plural.
- is — example is singular.
- are — examples is plural.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “here is” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Here is” is correct when introducing a singular noun, an uncountable noun, or certain clause structures. For example, “Here is your ticket” and “Here is some information” are correct.
Is “here are” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Here are” is correct when introducing a plural noun or plural noun phrase. For example, “Here are your tickets” and “Here are the documents” are standard English.
Which is correct: “here is the documents” or “here are the documents”?
“Here are the documents” is correct because documents is plural. The verb must agree with the noun being introduced.
Is “here is some information” correct?
Yes. “Information” is an uncountable noun in standard English, so it normally takes singular agreement: “Here is some information.”
Is “here are some information” correct?
No, not in standard English. Say “Here is some information.” If you want a countable plural expression, use “Here are some pieces of information.”
Can I say “here’s the keys”?
You may hear “here’s the keys” in informal speech, but “here are the keys” is the standard choice for careful English. Here’s is a contraction of here is, while keys is plural.
What is the difference between “here is” and “here’s”?
“Here’s” is the contraction of “here is.” For example, “Here is your book” and “Here’s your book” have the same basic meaning. The contraction is especially common in conversation and informal writing.
Is “here’re” the contraction of “here are”?
“Here’re” can occasionally be encountered as a written representation of “here are,” but it is uncommon and awkward in standard edited writing. In normal writing, simply use “here are.”
Why does “here are” sound different from normal sentence order?
Because the introductory construction places here and the verb before the noun. Compare “The books are here” with “Here are the books.” The underlying subject–verb relationship remains the same even though the word order changes.
Do Americans and British speakers use different rules for here is and here are?
No major difference exists in the basic grammar rule. Both varieties use singular agreement with singular or uncountable nouns and plural agreement with plural nouns. Informal spoken usage can vary, especially with contractions such as “here’s” before plural nouns.
Should I use “here is” or “here are” in a formal email?
Use whichever agrees with the noun. For example, “Here is the report” is correct for one report, while “Here are the reports” is correct for multiple reports. Both expressions are suitable for professional email.
How can I quickly choose between “here is” and “here are”?
Find the noun being introduced and check its number. One or uncountable → here is. More than one → here are. For example, “Here is the file” but “Here are the files.”
Quick Summary
Here is and here are are both correct; the choice depends on the noun that follows. Use here is with a singular noun or an uncountable noun: “Here is the answer” and “Here is some information.” Use here are with plural nouns: “Here are the answers.” The word here does not control the verb. Instead, identify the subject or noun phrase being introduced and match is or are to it. Be especially careful with uncountable nouns such as information, advice, and equipment. In informal speech, you may hear “here’s” before plural nouns, but here are is the standard choice for careful writing.
