Mandarin uses measure words (called 量词 or classifiers) between a number and a noun, and they cannot be dropped in standard speech. The most general measure word is 个 (ge), used for people and many objects, as in 一个人 (yí ge rén) and 三个老师 (sān ge lǎoshī). The measure word for books and bound items is 本 (běn), as in 一本书 (yì běn shū) and 两本杂志 (liǎng běn zázhì). The measure word for cups and glasses is 杯 (bēi), as in 一杯水 (yì bēi shuǐ) and 一杯咖啡 (yì bēi kāfēi). The measure word for most animals is 只 (zhī), as in 一只猫 (yì zhī māo). The measure word for flat, paper-like objects is 张 (zhāng), as in 一张照片 (yì zhāng zhàopiàn). For times or occurrences, the measure word is 次 (cì), as in 去过上海两次 (qù guò Shànghǎi liǎng cì). The general pattern is Number plus Measure word plus Noun.
Locations are expressed with 在 (zài) plus a place, often followed by a location word. The book is on the table is 书在桌子上 (shū zài zhuōzi shàng), where 上 means on top. Use 里 (lǐ) for inside, 下 (xià) for under or below, and 外 (wài) for outside. To ask where something is, use 在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ), as in 厕所在哪里 (cè suǒ zài nǎlǐ). The demonstratives 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà) mean this and that, and they combine with measure words, as in 这个 (zhège, this one) and 那个 (nàge, that one). For directions, 左 (zuǒ) is left, 右 (yòu) is right, and 左转 (zuǒ zhuǎn) and 右转 (yòu zhuǎn) mean turn left and turn right, while 一直走 (yìzhí zǒu) means go straight.
Possession is marked by 的 (de), pronounced with a neutral tone. 我的老师 means my teacher, and 她的同学 means her classmate. The verb 有 (yǒu) means to have, as in 我有一只猫 (wǒ yǒu yì zhī māo). When giving or doing something for someone, use 给 (gěi), as in 请给我一杯水 (qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ). The structure 把 followed by an object is not covered here, but the related idea of handling things for people uses 给.