在 or 有: Where Things Are

English uses 'is' both in 'the phone is on the table' and in 'there is a book on the table'. Chinese uses two different words and two different word orders.

• Thing + 在 + place: say where a known, specific thing or person is: 你的手机在桌子上 (Your phone is on the table).
• Place + 有 + thing: say what exists somewhere. Start with the place: 桌子上有一本书 (There is a book on the table). The thing is new information, often with a number or 很多.

The place is usually marked with a location word such as 上 (on), 里 (in), 下面 (under), 旁边 (next to), 附近 (near) or 对面 (opposite).

Tip: if the sentence starts with a location (often ending in 上, 里 or 旁边), use 有; if it starts with the known thing, person or building you are locating, use 在.