Referring to Persons in Mandarin Chinese

The chinese personal pronouns are very straightforward and have the same form regardless of being subject, object, indirect object, etc...

First person singular: 我 (wǒ) - I, me
Second person singular: 你 (nĭ) - you
Third person singular, masculine: 他 (tā) - he, him
Third person singular, feminine: 她 (tā) - she, her

The plural forms are derived from the singular forms by adding the plural marker 们 (men).

First person plural: 我们 (wǒmen) - we, us
Second person plural: 你们 (nĭmen) - you(-all)
Third person plural, masculine or mixed: 他们 (tāmen) - they, them
Third person plural, feminine: 她们 (tāmen) - they, them

Expressing Personal Possession in Mandarin Chinese

Using the Chinese personal pronouns possessively is also very easy compared to most other languages, just append the determiner particle 的 (de) to the pronoun, as the following example will illustrate. The thing that is being determined will appear after this particle, and the thing that determines it (the possessive adjective/pronoun in western grammar) will appear in front of it:

我的大学 (wǒ de dàxué) - my university
你的大学 (nǐ de dàxué) - your university
他的大学 (tā de dàxué) - his university
我们的大学 (wǒmen de dàxué) - our university
你们的大学 (nǐmen de dàxué) - your university
他们的大学 (tāmen de dàxué) - their university

Independent constructions (possessive pronouns)

Such a construction can be transformed into a more independent construction, similar to the possessive pronouns like "mine", "yours", "ours" in english:

这所大学是我的 (zhè suǒ dàxué shì wǒ de) - This university is mine
这所大学是他们的 (zhè suǒ dàxué shì tāmen de) - This university is theirs

Referring to things in Mandarin Chinese

Expressing "this" and "that" can be done as in the following example, but note that there appears an extra word that one might not have expected, this is a so-called Measure Word and is a very important feature in Chinese Grammar:

这所大学 (zhè suǒ dàxué) - Literal: This [MW] university - This university
那所大学 (nà suǒ dàxué) - Literal: That [MW] university - That university

In this case the measure word is 所 (suǒ), but there are numerous Measure Words, each can be used with a specific category of words. Those will need to be learnt by heart. However, there is a measure word that Chinese people use when they conveniently forget the right one: 个 (gè).

The use of such measure words is obligatory in many cases (such as this one).

Basic Sentences: Articles and Plural in Mandarin Chinese

Chinese nouns do not have articles, such as "the" and "a" in English, nor do they have a plural form.

So the word 大学 (dàxué) can any of the following mean:

a university
the university
the universities
universities

The context usually makes clear which is meant. There are however ways to stress what is meant:

一所大学 (yī suǒ dàxué) - Literal: one [MW] university - One university
这些/那些
大学 (zhèxiē/nàxiē dàxué) - these/those universities

Basic Sentences: Expressing TO BE in Mandarin Chinese

是 (shì) is the chinese equivalent of the English verb "to be".

Sentences like those expressing religion, nationality, etc... use this verb:

我是中国人 (wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén) - Literal: I am china person - I am chinese

However, when specifying profession the verb 当 (dàng) or 做 (zuò) is used:

我当老师 (wǒ dàng lǎoshī) - I am a teacher
我做老师 (wǒ zuò lǎoshī) - I am a teacher

Edit HoYin: Outside China the expression 我是老师 is perfectly acceptable. Note that the expressions 我当老师 and 我做老师 are considered formal, though they do appear in informal contexts.

Negation

The negation of this is made with 不 (bù):

我不是中国人 (wǒ bú shì Zhōngguó rén) - Literal: I not am china person - I am not chinese

A longer sentence

Let us look at a bigger sentence using 是 (shì):

我是你的中文老师 (wǒ shì nǐ de Zhōngguó lǎoshī) - Literal: I am your [DP] china teacher - I am your chinese teacher

Basic Sentences: Sentences describing properties in Mandarin Chinese

We will now take a look at a sentence describing a property, equivalent to english sentences such as "the university is old". In this case the chinese use no verb for "to be", but instead they use their word for "very", where this word has a very weak meaning. Furthermore, we must also remember that the chinese do not use articles such as "the" and "a":

大学很旧 (dàxué hěn jiù) - Literal: university [very] old - The university is old

There is another way of forming this sentence. We can use the verb "to be" in combination with the determiner particle (DP):

大学是旧的 (dàxué shì jiù de) - Literal: university is old [DP] - The university is old

This way of expressing a property is usually used when you want to emphasize something, it is pretty much always used with colors.

Negation

Negation is usually made with the word 不 (bù), this always applies to this type of sentence, in which case 很 (hěn) is not not needed anymore:

大学不旧 (dàxué bú jiù) - Literal: university not old - The university is not old

And another way of expressing this using the verb "to be":

大学不是旧的 (dàxué bú shì jiù de) - Literal: university not is old [DP] - The university is not old

Adjectives in Mandarin Chinese

Adjectives in Chinese are placed in a construction with the Determiner Particle 的 (de). The determinator (the adjective) appears in front of the particle and that what is to be determined appears behind it:

旧的大学 (jiù de dàxué) - Literal: old [DP] university - (the/an) old university

Questions: yes/no Questions in Mandarin Chinese

A simple yes/no question, similar to the english question "Are you chinese?" is, in chinese, formed the same as the non-questioning sentence "you are chinese", the only difference is the presence of the question particle 吗 (ma) and the question mark.

你是中国人。 (nǐ shì zhōngguó rén) - Literal: you are china person - You are Chinese
你是中国人吗? (nǐ shì zhōngguó rén ma?) - Literal: you are china person [QP]? - Are you Chinese?

The chinese does not really have words for "yes" and "no", unlike many other languages. The answer to a question is generally formed by repeating the verb. The answer to the question above can be formed as following:

是。 (shì) - Literal: am - yes
不是。 (bú shì) - Literal: not am - no

Another very common way of forming a yes/no question is by providing the answer choices in the question, in this case the question particle should not be used anymore, because this construction implies a question already.

你是不是中国人? (nǐ shì bú shì zhōngguó rén?) - Literal: You are not are china person? - Are you Chinese?
你是中国人不是? (nǐ shì zhōngguó rén bú shì?) - Literal: You are china person not are? - Are you Chinese

When you use this construction with an auxiliary verb you repeat that auxiliary verb, and not the main verb:

你会不会说汉语? (nǐ huì bú huì shuō hàn yǔ?) - Literal: you can not can speak mandarin chinese? - Can you speak mandarin chinese?

Questions: Question Words in Mandarin Chinese

The following question words (interrogative pronouns) are available in Chinese:

谁 (shéi/shuí) - who?
什么 (shénme) - what?
为什么 (wèi shénme) - why?
什么时候 (shénme) shíhou - when?
哪 (nǎ) - which? (singular)
哪些 (nǎxiē) - which? (plural)
哪儿/哪里 (nǎr/nǎli) - where?
干吗 (gànma) - why?
怎么/怎么样 (zěnme/zěnmeyang) - how?
多少 (duōshao) - how many?
几 (jī) - how many? (under ten, requires measure particle)

These interrogative pronouns are inserted at the place where normally the answer would appear, so Chinese does not put the interrogative pronouns at the start of the sentence as English does.

Also note that the presence of interrogative pronouns like these, makes the question particle not necessary anymore.

Asking about persons

你的朋友是谁 (nǐ de péngyǒu shì shéi?) - Literal: you [DP] friend is who? - who is your friend?

Asking about objects

这是什么? (zhè shì shénme?) - Literal: this is what? - What is this?
你看见什么? (nǐ kànjiàn shénme?) - Literal: you see what? - What do you see?
你看见什么书? (nǐ kànjiàn shénme shū?) - Literal: you see what book? - What book do you see?
你看见哪书? (nǐ kànjiàn nǎ shū?) - Literal: you see which book? - Which book do you see?
你是哪国人? (nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?) - Literal: you are which country person? - From what country are you?

Asking why

你为什么看我? (nǐ wèi shénme kàn wǒ?) - Literal: you why watch me? - Why do you look at me?
你干吗看我? (nǐ gànma kàn wǒ?) - Literal: you what-for watch me? - Why do you look at me?

The latter is more direct and more like "what for".

Asking whereabouts

你在哪里? (nǐ shì nǎli?) - Literal: you are where? - Where are you?
你在哪儿? (nǐ shì nǎr?) - Literal: you are where? - Where are you?
你去哪里? (nǐ qù nǎli?) - Literal: you go where? - Where do you go to?
你去哪儿? (nǐ qù nǎr?) - Literal: you go where? - Where do you go to?

Asking time

你什么时候去? (nǐ shénme shíhou qù?) - Literal: you what time go? - When do you go?

Asking quantity

Usually without Measure Word:

去多少人? (qù duōshao rén) - Literal: go how-many person - How many people go?

Always with Measure Word and only valid between a quantity of one and ten:

去几个人? (qù jī ge rén) - Literal: go howmany [MW] person - How many people go?

The above construction can be transformed to be valid within other ranges:

去几个人? (qù jī ge rén) - Literal: go howmany [MW] person - How many people go? (1-10)
去几十个人? (qù jī shí ge rén) - Literal: go howmany ten [MW] person - How many people go? (a factor 10 between 10 and 100)
去几百个人? (qù jī bǎi ge rén) - Literal: go howmany hundred [MW] person - How many people go? (a factor hundred between 100 and 1000)

Asking way/means

你怎么(样)去北京? (nǐ zěnme(yang) qù běijīng?) - Literal: you go Beijing how - How do you go to Beijing?

怎么 and 怎么样 mean the same in this context. It's also possible to use 怎么(样) as a predicate, in which case their meaning differs. But we will not get into that yet.

Returning questions & suggestive and doubtful questioning

There is another particle relevant to questions. This is the particle 呢 (ne). This particle is usually used in context to return a question.

我是中国人, 你呢? (wǒ shì zhōnggúo rén, nǐ ne?) - Literal: I am china person, you [QP]? - I am chinese, what about you?

呢 (ne) can be an interrogative particle that is not as direct as 吗 (ma), and it has a somewhat suggestive air to it, or a hint of doubt.

Choices in questions

We already saw constructs in the form 你是不是中国人?, here a choice is implied 是 versus 不是.

We can also introduce a more restrictive and explicit choice with 还是 (háishì), a chinese equivalent of the word "or".

你去中国还是去日本? (nǐ qù zhōnggúo háishì qù rìběn?) - Literal: you go China or go Japan? - Do you go to China or to Japan?

Note that 还是 binds verbs together, not nouns, so the verb 去 has to be repeated here. The only exception is the following:

你是中国人还是日本人? (nǐ shì zhōnggúorén háishì rìběnrén?) - Literal: you are chinese or japanese? - Are you Chinese or Japanese?

You see that you don't need to repeat the verb 是 because it's already part of 还是.

Using question words in a non-interrogative way in Mandarin Chinese

Interrogative pronouns outside questions

It is possible to use interrogative pronouns in a non-interrogative way, below you can see what meaning the words have if used in an interrogative way, and in a non-interrogative way:

谁 (shéi/shuí) - who? - somebody
什么 (shénme) - what? - something
为什么 (wèi shénme) - why? - for some reason
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) - when? - sometime
哪 (nǎ) - which? (singular) - something
哪些 (nǎxiē) - which? (plural) - something
哪儿/哪里 (nǎr/nǎli) - where? - there
干吗 (gànma) - why? - for some reason
怎么/怎么样 (zěnme/zěnmeyang) - how? - in some way
多少 (duōshao) - how many? - so many
几 (jī) - how many (under ten, requires measure particle)? - so many

Some examples:

我找谁? (wǒ zhǎo shéi?) - Who do I search?
我找谁 (wǒ zhǎo shéi) - I search somebody
我看见什么? (wǒ kànjiàn shénme?) - What do I see?
我看见什么 (wǒ kànjiàn shénme) - I see something

Transforming interrogative constructs to an every-construct

There are two particles that change the meaning of an interrogative pronoun, instead of having an interrogative meaning, the interrogative pronoun will function more like an adverb. These two particles are 都 (dōu) and 也 (yě). The latter can be used only in negated sentences and the former can be used in both.

Take a look at the following example, in negations 都 (dōu), can be replaced by 也 (yě).

谁都 (shéi dōu) - everybody
什么都 (shénme dōu) - everything
什么时候都 (shénme shíhou dōu) - always
哪里都 (nǎli dōu) - everywhere
怎么都 (zěnme dōu)- in every way

Note that in negations, the opposite is expressed: nobody instead of everybody etc...

谁都去北京 (shéi dōu qù běijīng) - Everybody goes to Beijing
谁都不去北京 (shéi dōu bú qù běijīng) - Nobody goes to Beijing
谁也不去北京 (shéi yě bú qù běijīng) - Nobody goes to Beijing
我看见什么都 (wǒ kànjiàn shénme dōu) - I see everything
我不看见什么都 (wǒ bú kànjiàn shénme dōu) - I don't see anything / I see nothing
我不看见什么也 (wǒ bú kànjiàn shénme yě) - I don't see anything / I see nothing
我什么时候都看见你 (wǒ shénme shíhou kànjiàn nǐ) - I always see you
我什么时候都不看见你 (wǒ shénme shíhou dōu bú kànjiàn nǐ) - I never see you
我什么时候也不看见你 (wǒ shénme shíhou yě bú kànjiàn nǐ) - I never see you

Interrogative pronouns in pairs

The chinese word for "so", 就 (jiù), can be used with interrogative pronouns in pairs, these pronouns will not be used interrogatively and are bound to eachother. An example will illustrate how to form such a construct and what its function is:

你看见什么, 就看见什么 (n kànjiàn shénme, jiù kànjiàn shénme) - Literal: you see [what], so you see [what] - You see whatever you (want to) see
你去哪里, 就去哪里 (nǐ qù nǎli, jiù qù nǎli) - Literal: you go [where], so you go [where] - You go whereever you (want to) go
你看见什么, 我也看见什么 (nǐ kànjiàn shénme, wǒ yě kànjiàn shénme) - Literal: you see [what], I also see [what] - You see what(ever) I see as well
你看见什么, 我看见什么 (nǐ kànjiàn shénme, wǒ kànjiàn shénme) - Literal: you see [what], I see [what] - You see what(ever) I see
你去哪里, 我也去哪里 (nǐ qù nǎli, wǒ yě qù nǎli) - Literal: you go [where], I also go [where] - You go where(ever) I go

The first two example make use of 就 (jiù), the last three don't, but note that the interrogative pronouns are also bound here. It is recommended to use the sentences with the 也(yě).

Auxiliary verbs and their negation in Mandarin Chinese

To have: Possession

Although this verb is an auxiliary verb in english, where it is used to form the perfect tenses for example, this is not the case in Chinese.

The verb 有(yǒu) is the chinese equivalent of "to have" and is used to express possession:

我有词典 (wǒ yǒu cídiǎn) - Literal: I have dictionary - I have (the/a) dictionary

HoYin Edits: Usually in such contexts the speaker is referring to the fact that he or she possesses dictionaries, meaning the sentence above can be translated also as "I have dictionaries." or "I have a dictionary." Usually it isn't an answer to someone's question, e.g. "Do you have a dictionary?" but rather when talking about it "I have dictionaries, but I'm not a nerd." (not that it actually is very relevant)

The negation of this verb is never formed with 不 (bù), but always with 没 (méi).

我没有词典 (wǒ méi yǒu cídiǎn) - Literal: I not have dictionary - I don't have a dictionary

To be able to (can): Capability to do someting

There are several auxiliary verbs for expressing ability to do something. First of all there are 能 (néng) and 可以 (kěyǐ), both expressing a natural ability to do something.

我能给你词典 (wǒ néng gěi nǐ cídiǎn) - Literal: I can give you dictionary - I can give you the dictionary
我可以给你词典 (wǒ kěyǐ gěi nǐ cídiǎn) - Literal: I can give you dictionary - I can give you the dictionary

The negation of both 能, as well as 可以 is 不能 and NEVER 不可以*.

我不能给你词典 (wǒ bú néng gěi nǐ cídiǎn) - Literal: I not can give you dictionary - I can't give you the dictionary

能 and可以 are both often used expressing a quantity related to a natural ability to do something.

The verb 会 (hùi) is used to express an acquired ability to do something:

我会用词典 (wǒ huì yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I can use dictionary - I can use a dictionary, I know how to use a dictionary
我会说汉语 (wǒ huì shūo hànyǔ) - Literal: I can speak mandarin-chinese - I can speak Mandarin Chinese
我会汉语 (wǒ huì hànyǔ) | Literal: I can mandarin-chinese - I can speak Mandarin Chinese / I know Mandarin Chinese

能 and 可以 also have another usage, that of being permitted to do something, this same use is also implicit in the english verb "can".

我能给你词典 (wǒ néng gěi nǐ cídiǎn) - Literal: I can give you dictionary - I can give you the dictionary [as in: I have permission to give you the dictionary]
我可以给你词典 (wǒ kěyǐ gěi nǐ cídiǎn) - Literal: I can give you dictionary - I can give you the dictionary [as in: I have permission to give you the dictionary]
我能给你词典吗? (wǒ néng gěi nǐ cídiǎn ma?) - I can give you dictionary [QP]? - Can I give you the dictionary?

To have to (must): Obligations and forbidding

Expressing a strong obligation in Chinese is done with the verb 必得 (bìděi), 必须 (bìxū) or 必要 (bìyào):

我必得用词典 (wǒ bìděi yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I must use dictionary - I must use the dictionary

Note that in the above cases a strong obligation is meant, like the teacher ordered you to use a dictionary, and you will fail the assignment if you don't. A much weaker obligation, like the english "ought to" is also expressable in chinese, with the verb 应该 (yīnggāi) or 应当 (yīnggāi):

我应该用词典 (wǒ yīnggāi yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I ought use dictionary - I ought to use the dictionary / I must use the dictionary

When expressing the opposite of of an obligation to do something, forbidding to do something, there you should use 不必 (bú bì)

我不必用词典 (wǒ bú bì yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not need use dictionary - I needn't use a dictionary / I do not need to use a dictionary [as in: There is not need at all to use the dictionary]
我不能用词典 (wǒ bú néng yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not can use dictionary - I cannot use a dictionary / I am not allowed to use a dictionary [as in: I am forbidden to use a dictionary]

To put it a bit less strongly, but with a moralising emphasis, you can use 不应该 (bù yīnggāi)

我不应该用词典 (wǒ bù yīnggāi yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not ought use dictionary - I mustn't use a dictionary / I can't use a dictionary / I ought not to use a dictionary

We can take again more force out of it using 不用 (bù yòng) or 不须要 (bù xūyào)

我不须要用词典 (wǒ bù xū yào yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not have-to use dictionary - I must not use a dictionary / I don't have to use a dictionary

Another neutral way of expressing this is:

我别用词典 (wǒ bié yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I must-not use dictionary - I must not use a dictionary / I don't have to use a dictionary
我不要用词典 (wǒ bú yào yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not must use dictionary - I must not use a dictionary / I don't have to use a dictionary

to want: Desire to do something

A good way of expressing desire to do something at a specific moment is by using 想 (xiǎng):

我想用词典 (wǒ xiǎng yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I want use dictionary - I would like to use a dictionary / I want to use a dictionary
我不想用词典 (wǒ bù xiǎng yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not want use dictionary - I wouldn't like to use a dictionary / I don't want to use a dictionary

A strong desire in general, can be expressed using 爱 (ài):

我爱用词典 (wǒ ài yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I love use dictionary - I love using dictionaries
我不爱用词典 (wǒ bù ài yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not love use dictionary - I don't like using dictionaries

肯 (kěn) is used to express a wanting or being ready to do something, with less emphasis on desire:

我肯用词典j (wǒ kěn yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I willing-to use dictionary - I am willing to use a dictionary
我不肯用词典 (wǒ bù kěn yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not willing-to use dictionary - I am not willing to use a dictionary

要 (yào) expresses also a strong desire (or refusal when negated) to do something, it is also used to express future tense, but more about that in a later chapter:

我要用词典 (wǒ yào yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I want use dictionary - I want to use a dictionary
我不要用词典 (wǒ bù yào yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not want use dictionary - I don't want to use a dictionary

to dare: Daring to do something

Expressing having the courage to do something is done with the verb 敢 (gǎn):

我敢用词典 (wǒ gǎn yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I dare use dictionary - I dare to use a dictionary
我不敢用词典 (wǒ bù gǎn yòng cídiǎn) - Literal: I not dare use dictionary - I don't dare to use a dictionary

might: Possibility/Probability

The construction 会...的 (huì...de) is used to express a possibility or probability in the future.

我会用词典的 (wǒ huì yòng cídiǎn de) - I might use a dictionary
我不会用词典的 (wǒ bú huì yòng cídiǎn de) - I might not use a dictionary

Specifying Location in Mandarin Chinese

Position words

The following list of position words is used for expressing position, the character between braces is the _obligatory_ suffix that should be added when using the postposition, when there are multiple you can choose any of them. The characters that are marked with an asterisk can also appear directly as postposition (behind the noun) without needing a suffix.

这里/这儿 - zhèlĭ/zhèr - here
那里/那儿 - nǎlĭ/nǎr - there
上 (*/边/面/头) - shàng (biān/miàn/tou) - above, on
下 (*/边/面/头) - xià (biān/miàn/tou) - below, under
里 (*/边/面/头) - lĭ (biān/miàn/tou) - in(side)
外 (*/边/面/头) - wài (biān/miàn/tou) - out(side)
後 (边/面/头) - hòu (biān/miàn/tou) - behind
前 (边/面/头) - qián (biān/miàn/tou) - in front (of)
对 (面) - duì (miàn) - opposite (to)
旁 (边) - páng (biān) - aside,near
中 (间) - zhōng (ji�?n) - between
这 (边/面) - zhè (biān/miàn) - at this side (of)
那 (边/面) - nǎ (biān/miàn) - at that side (of)
左 (边/面) - zuǒ (biān/miàn) - left (of)
石 (边/面) - yòu (biān/miàn) - right (of)

Note: In Chinese the points of the compass are usually listed in the order of: East, South, West, North. Not in the usual Western order of North, South, East, West.

东 (边) - dōng (biān) - east (of)
南 (边) - nán (biān) - south (of)
西 (边) - xī (biān) - west (of)
北 (边) - běi (biān) - north (of)

These position words can appear in several ways in a sentence, they can appear independently, which is by the way the only way in which 这里 and 那里 can appear:

这里是房子 (zhèl�? shì fàngzi) - Literal: here is house - Here is the house
房子在北边 (fàngzi zài běi bi�?n) - Literal: house is north - The house is in the north

The position words can also be used adjectively:

北边的房子 (běi bi�?n de fàngzi) - Literal: north [DP] house - the northern house

Postpositions

But the most common use is to be used as postposition:

房子後面 (fàngzi hòu miàn) - Literal: house behind - behind the house
房子外边 (fàngzi wài biān) - Literal: house outside - outside of the house
房子外 (fàngzi wài) - Literal: house outside - outside of the house

When there are two items, such as often is the case when using "between", then you can use a postposition in the following way, using the Chinese word for "and": 和 (hé):

在我的房子和你的房子之间 (wǒ de fàngzi hé n�? de páng bi�?n) - Literal: my house and your house between - between my house and your house

The main three verbs

There are several verbs associated with expressing location, the main ones being 在 (zài), 是 (shì) and 有(yǒu). The two latter we have already seen before.

When using 是 (shì), the position must appear at the start of the sentences:

房子外是我 (fàngzi wài shì wǒ) - Literal: house out am I - I am outside of the house

The more common 在 (zài) works the other way round, the position has to appear at the end of the sentence:

我在房子外 (wǒ zài fàngzi wài) - Literal: I located-at house outside - I am outside of the house

有(yǒu) (which you know is also used to indicate possession, "to have") can be used in this context to mean "there is/are" and is usually used with undetermined things, unlike 是 (shì). The position also has to be at the start of the sentence here:

北京里有房子 (běijīng l�? yǒu fàngzi) - Literal: Beijing in have house - There are houses in Beijing

在 (zài) can also be used as a locational preposition, instead of a verb. 在 (zài) will then be followed by the position it applies to and then will be followed by a position word, this position word is not necessary though when the position is a geographical name or a very common place.

我在房子後面给你辞典 (wǒ zài fàngzi hòu miàn gěi n�? cídiǎn) - Literal: I [LOC.PREP] house behind give you dictionary - I give you the dictionary behind the house

Note that the construction is: subject - locational preposition - position - position word - predicate - object.

在 (zài) can also be used to express "at my place", "at your place" etc..., in this case it is followed by a personal pronoun and the word for here or there

我在你这儿 (wǒ zài n�? zhèr) - Literal: I located-at you here - I'm at your place (here)
我在你这里 (wǒ zài n�? zhè l�?) - Literal: I located-at you here - I'm at your place (here)
我在你那儿 (wǒ zài n�? nǎr) - Literal: I located-at you there - I'm at your place (there)
我在你那里 (wǒ zài n�? nǎ l�?) - Literal: I located-at you there - I'm at your place (there)