Here Is or Here Are? Which Is Correct?

📘 Here Is or Here Are? depends on the subject, so learn the grammar rule for singular nouns, plural nouns, and uncountable nouns in clear English. This tiny grammar choice often leaves you mid-sentence wondering, but the simple principle is easy to apply. In grammar, here it normally introduces a singular noun or uncountable noun, while here it introduces a plural noun.

The rule appears in everyday expressions, including emails, presentations, reports, and social posts. You may write here are the documents, while are here can appear when the sentence uses a different normal order. Here doesn’t control the verb; the subject does.

Here’s creates the common “Here’s” trap when speakers use it before a plural idea. Students, professionals, and native speakers can all make these mistakes when something looks fine but feels awkward, or seems right but looks wrong in writing. My experience reviewing professional English shows that checking the noun first makes corrections easier and helps you handle special cases without unnecessary trouble.

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Quick Answer: Here Is or Here Are?

Both “here is” and “here are” are correct. Your choice depends mainly on the grammatical number of the subject that follows.

Use here is with a singular noun.
Use here is with an uncountable noun.
Use here is with a plural noun.

Examples

Expression	Use	Example
Here is	Singular noun	Here is your book.
Here is	Uncountable noun	Here is some information.
Here are	Plural noun	Here are your books.
Here are	Plural people or things	Here are the students.

So, if you’re introducing one thing, use here is:

Here is the answer.

If you’re introducing several things, use here are:

Here are the answers.

The word here doesn’t decide whether you need is or are. The subject does.

What Does “Here Is” Mean?

“Here is” introduces, presents, points out, or draws attention to one person, thing, idea, or uncountable noun.

It commonly appears when someone is giving something to another person or directing attention toward something.

Consider these examples:

Here is your coffee.
Here is the report.
Here is my suggestion.
Here is the answer to your question.
Here is the information you requested.

In each sentence, the noun or noun phrase is singular or uncountable.

When to Use “Here Is” With Singular Nouns

Use here is when the noun that follows refers to one person, object, place, idea, or other singular entity.

For example:

Here is your pen.
Here is the document.
Here is our teacher.
Here is the problem.
Here is a simple example.

The easiest test is to move here to the end:

Here is the document.

becomes:

The document is here.

The subject is the document, which is singular. Therefore, it agrees with it.

The same pattern works with:

Here are the documents.

Rearrange it:

The documents are here.

Now the subject is the documents, which is plural. Therefore, are is correct.

“Here Is” With Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns create another common source of mistakes.

Words such as information, advice, equipment, furniture, money, and research generally function as singular or mass nouns in standard English.

Therefore, use here is:

Here is some information.
Here is the advice you requested.
Here is the equipment we need.
Here is the money.
Here is the research behind the claim.

Compare:

❌ Here are the information.

✅ Here is the information.

The reason isn’t the word here. The noun information controls the agreement.

What Does “Here Are” Mean?

“Here are” introduces two or more people, things, ideas, or other plural subjects.

For example:

Here are your keys.
Here are the documents.
Here are three examples.
Here are the results.
Here are the reasons for the change.

The subject is plural in each case.

When to Use “Here Are” With Plural Nouns

Use here are when you’re presenting more than one person or thing.

For example:

Here are your shoes.

There is more than one shoe.

Here are the files you requested.

There is more than one file.

Here are my suggestions.

There is more than one suggestion.

A useful mental trick is to move here to the end:

Here are the files.

becomes:

The files are here.

Once the sentence returns to normal word order, the agreement becomes much easier to see.

Here Is vs. Here Are: The Main Grammar Rule

The central rule is simple:

Singular or uncountable subject → here is
Plural subject → here are

Here’s a practical comparison:

Subject	Correct expression	Example
book	Here is	Here is the book.
books	Here are	Here are the books.
information	Here is	Here is the information.
answers	Here are	Here are the answers.
advice	Here is	Here is some advice.
documents	Here are	Here are the documents.
problem	Here is	Here is the problem.
problems	Here are	Here are the problems.

The key is to ignore the tempting distraction created by here.

Here Is or Here Are With “What” Clauses

The expression “here is what…” deserves special attention.

Consider:

Here is what you need to know.

This is standard English.

You can also say:

Here is what happened.

Or:

Here is what I recommend.

A what-clause can function as a single grammatical unit. That’s why here is naturally introduces these constructions.

Why “Here Are What…” Usually Doesn’t Work

Compare:

❌ Here are what you need to know.

with:

✅ Here is what you need to know.

The second sentence treats what you need to know as the complete thing being presented.

If you want a plural construction, use an actual plural noun:

Here are the things you need to know.

Now things are clearly plural, so are fits.

Here Is or Here Are With Lists

Lists create some of the trickiest examples.

Compare:

Here is a list of important changes.

and:

Here are the important changes.

Both sentences are correct, but they introduce different grammatical subjects.

In the first sentence, the subject is a list.

A list is here.

In the second, the subject is the important changes.

The important changes are here.

That’s why the following sentence is correct:

Here is a list of examples.

The word example is plural, but it isn’t the main subject. The main noun is list, which is singular.

Here Is a List vs. Here Are the Items

Sentence	Subject	Correct form
Here is a list of examples.	list	is
Here are the examples.	examples	are
Here is a group of questions.	group	is
Here are the questions.	questions	are
Here is a collection of photographs.	collection	is
Here are the photographs.	photographs	are

The plural noun inside an of-phrase doesn’t automatically control the verb.

Here Is or Here Are With Compound Subjects

Compound subjects can make the choice less obvious.

Consider:

Here are John and Maria.

The sentence introduces two people. The subject is therefore plural.

Another example:

Here is the book and the notebook.

Traditional subject-verb agreement favors are because the sentence presents two coordinated nouns.

However, compound constructions can sound awkward when the nouns differ in number or when the sentence begins with here.

Instead of forcing an uncomfortable structure, rewrite it when clarity improves:

The book and notebook are here.

This version removes the inversion completely.

Here’s vs. Here Are

One of the biggest points of confusion involves here’s.

Here’s is the contraction of here is.

So:

Here’s your book.

means:

Here is your book.

Similarly:

Here’s the information you requested.

means:

Here is the information you requested.

Is “Here’s” Correct Before a Plural Noun?

This question gets more complicated because spoken English doesn’t always follow the neatest textbook pattern.

You may hear or see sentences such as:

Here’s some things you should know.

In careful formal writing, the clearer standard choice is:

Here are some things you should know.

Although plural uses of here’s occur in informal speech, formal writing is better served by standard subject-verb agreement.

Here Is or Here Are in Questions

The same agreement principle applies when a statement becomes a question.

For example:

Here is the answer:

This can occur in conversation when someone is seeking confirmation.

With a plural noun:

Here are the answers?

Again, the noun determines the number.

However, many questions will sound more natural with a different structure depending on the intended meaning:

Is the answer here?

Are the answers here?

Common Mistakes With “Here Is” and “Here Are”

Using “Here Is” Before a Plural Noun

Incorrect:

❌ Here is the documents you requested.

Correct:

✅ Here are the documents you requested.

Documents is plural, so it requires are.

Using “Here Are” Before an Uncountable Noun

Incorrect:

❌ Here are the information you requested.

Correct:

✅ Here is the information you requested.

Information functions as an uncountable noun here.

Looking at the Wrong Noun

Consider:

Here is a collection of old photographs.

It’s easy to see photographs and immediately reach for are. Don’t.

The grammatical subject is collection.

Therefore:

Here is a collection of old photographs.

The same reason explains:

Here is a group of students.

not:

❌ Here are a group of students.

Assuming “Here” Controls the Verb

Another common mistake is thinking that here behaves like a singular or plural noun.

It doesn’t. In these introductory constructions, here points to a place, introduces something, or draws attention to what follows.

The subject determines the verb.

Real-World Examples of “Here Is” and “Here Are”

Everyday Conversation

Here is your coffee.

Here are your keys.

Workplace Emails

Here is the report you requested.

Here are the files from yesterday’s meeting.

Academic Writing

Here is the evidence supporting the argument.

Here are three factors that influence the result.

Introducing Instructions

Here is what you need to do.

Then, when introducing multiple steps:

Here are the steps you need to follow.

Notice the difference between what you need to do and the steps.

A Simple Case Study: “Here Is a List” vs. “Here Are the Examples”

Imagine you’re writing a grammar article and want to introduce five examples.

You could write:

Here is a list of five examples.

That’s correct because the list is singular.

You could then write:

Here are the five examples.

That’s also correct because examples are plural.

Now consider:

❌ Here are a list of five examples.

The problem becomes obvious once you identify the subject. You’re introducing a list, not five independent subjects. Therefore, it is the correct choice.

Here Is or Here Are: Quick Comparison

Sentence	Correct?	Explanation
Here is your book.	✅	“Book” is singular.
Here are your books.	✅	“Books” is plural.
Here is the information.	✅	“Information” is uncountable.
Here is the information.	❌	“Information” doesn’t take plural agreement here.
Here is a list of examples.	✅	“List” is singular.
Here are the examples.	✅	“Examples” is plural.
Here is what you need.	✅	The what-clause functions as a single unit.
Here is what you need.	❌	This structure doesn’t work in standard English.
Here are the documents.	✅	“Documents” is plural.
Here are the documents.	❌	“Documents” requires plural agreement.
Here is some advice.	✅	“Advice” is uncountable.
Here are some suggestions.	✅	“Suggestions” is plural.

How to Choose Between “Here Is” and “Here Are”

When you’re unsure, use this quick process.

Find the Subject

Don’t automatically treat the first noun you see as the subject. Look at the complete noun phrase.

Here is a box of old letters.

The subject is a box, not letters.

Check Its Number

Ask whether the subject is:

Singular
Plural
Uncountable

Then choose the matching verb.

Apply the Rule

Singular → is

Here is the answer.

Plural → are

Here are the answers.

Uncountable → is

Here is the information.

Watch for “Of” Phrases

An of-phrase can hide the real subject.

Here is a group of students.

The subject is group.

Here are the students.

The subject is students.

That tiny distinction can save you from a surprisingly common grammar error.

FAQs:

Is “Here Is” Grammatically Correct?

Yes. Here it is correct when it introduces a singular subject or an uncountable noun.

For example:

Here is your answer.

Here is some useful information.

Is “Here Are” Grammatically Correct?

Yes. Here it is correct when it introduces a plural subject.

For example:

Here are your answers.

Here are the documents.

Which Is Correct: “Here Is” or “Here Are”?

Both are correct. The correct choice depends on the subject.

Use here is for singular or uncountable subjects. Use here is for plural subjects.

Is “Here’s” Correct for Plural Nouns?

Here’s formally represents here is, so standard careful writing normally used here is before a plural noun.

Here are the results.

Although plural uses of here’s occur in informal speech, formal writing is better served by standard subject-verb agreement.

Should I Say “Here Is a List” or “Here Are a List”?

Use:

Here is a list.

The subject is list, which is singular.

Should I Say “Here Is the Examples” or “Here Are the Examples”?

Use:

Here are the examples.

The subject example is plural.

Is “Here Is Some Information” Correct?

Yes.

Here is some information.

Information is an uncountable noun, so it takes singular agreement in this construction.

Conclusion:

Choosing between here is and here are becomes simple when you focus on the subject. Use here is with a singular or uncountable noun, and use here is with a plural noun. Once you identify the noun and match the verb to it, this common grammar question becomes much easier to handle.