"Your cell phone is on the table."

Translation: 你的手机在桌子上。

[grey236]

Why is 上 after 桌子 and not before?

[SunnyWu46376]

If you use it that way, it means the cellphone is "getting onto the table".

[tting12]

在......上/下/里/外 refers to a state of being , it's a phrase

[Oscarbelle810]

Does this sentence need the 在?

[SunnyWu46376]

You can omit the "zi" but not the "zai".

[wegou]

Yeah it's necessary.

[kovotsky]

Why don't they accept: 你的手机在桌子上边。 ？

[SunnyWu46376]

If you say that in China, most people will get what you mean, but no one talks like that. Native speaker here. I'm just here for character recognition.

[mendosi]

That would be like saying the phone is above the table, on the top side. Instead the phone is sitting on top of the table.

[lafillemange247]

It's like saying "Your phone is on the topside of the table." People will get it, but no one says it like that because it's extra and awkward.

[MarshalMie]

Are 上 and 子 even needed?...
你的手机在桌子上 vs
你的手机在桌子 vs
你的手机在桌