Confused about when to use 'here' vs 'there' in describing locations in my stories
I'm writing some short stories in English, and I keep getting stuck on when to use 'here' or 'there' to talk about places. For example, should I write, 'I sat here and watched the rain,' or 'I sat there and watched the rain'? Or if I'm describing a park in my story, do I say, 'There is a big tree here' or 'There is a big tree there'? English is not my first language, and I'm worried these small words change the meaning in ways I don't understand. Could someone explain how native speakers choose between 'here' and 'there' in sentences like these?
Context:
Looking for help with narrative writing, not formal or academic English. Audience is ESL learners writing fiction.
What to Know
| Question You Likely Still Have | Direct Answer | How To Apply It |
|---|---|---|
| What is the core rule for confused here describing locations? | Contrast Examples: "I found a strange rock here under my bench." (The character is at the bench right now.) "I found a strange rock there under the bench." (The character is telli… | General Pattern: Use 'here' to refer to the narrator’s (or character's) current location in the story. |
| How do I apply confused here describing locations in a sentence like mine? | General Pattern: Use 'here' to refer to the narrator’s (or character's) current location in the story. | Use 'there' for a place away from the narrator’s (or character's) position, or to point to somewhere mentioned before. |
| What mistakes should I avoid with confused here describing locations? | Examples: If your main character stands next to a lake: "The water is so clear here." If describing something not close by: "There, beyond the trees, is the old cottage." Guided P… | If you imagine being in their place, use 'here.' If they're talking about another place, use 'there.' |
3 Answers
General Pattern:
- Use 'here' to refer to the narrator’s (or character's) current location in the story.
- Use 'there' for a place away from the narrator’s (or character's) position, or to point to somewhere mentioned before.
Contrast Examples:
- "I found a strange rock here under my bench." (The character is at the bench right now.)
- "I found a strange rock there under the bench." (The character is telling this from a different place, not at the bench.)
Practice Tip:
When editing, ask: "Am I describing a place my narrator/character is at or somewhere else?"
Try rewriting:
- "The bakery is here on this street." (narrator is on the street)
- "The bakery is there on Main Street, across from the library." (referring to a different street)
Self-Check:
Before using 'here' or 'there,' pause and picture where your character is. If you imagine being in their place, use 'here.' If they're talking about another place, use 'there.'
One way to master 'here' and 'there' is by thinking about how characters talk in scenes:
Dialogue Examples:
- At the start of your story, your character reaches a garden: "It's so quiet here."
- Talking about another location: "Do you see that house over there? That’s where I grew up."
How to Decide:
- Use 'here' when the person speaking (or narrating) is in the place being described.
- Use 'there' when the place is not the current location, or when pointing out something at a distance or in the past.
Practice:
Try narrating a scene where your character enters a room. Write two sentences—one using 'here' as they arrive, one using 'there' as they notice something across the room. Compare how the meaning changes.
Edit Check:
After drafting, highlight each 'here' and 'there'—ask if the speaker is at the place ('here') or looking/talking about another place ('there'). If not, switch the word.
Imagine your story like a movie scene. Where is the 'camera' (narrator/character) in relation to what’s being described?
Examples:
- If your main character stands next to a lake: "The water is so clear here."
- If describing something not close by: "There, beyond the trees, is the old cottage."
Guided Practice:
Draw a quick map of a story setting—mark where your character is and other objects or places. Write two sentences: one about something next to them (using 'here'), one about something farther away (using 'there').
Correction Tip:
If you find your character is describing something at a distance but used 'here,' try changing it to 'there' and see if it sounds more natural in English storytelling.
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