有 vs 在【yǒu vs zài】

有 and 在 both connect a thing and a place. Which one you use depends on which of the two the listener already knows about.

The first introduces a book the listener did not know was there. The second is about a book already under discussion, and reports where it is.

The order follows the information

What is known comes first, what is new comes last. 有 starts with the place, so the thing is the news. 在 starts with the thing, so the place is the news.

A definite thing cannot follow 有

zhuō zi桌子shǎng上yǒu有wǒ我de的Shū书 is odd, because 我的书 is something the listener already knows about. Say 我的书在桌子上.

Conversely, a bare indefinite noun does not sit comfortably in front of 在: yī一běn本Shū书zài在zhuō zi桌子shǎng上 needs a reason to be said that way.

是 as the third option

A place followed by 是 and a thing states what occupies that place exclusively.

有 allows other things to be there too; 是 says this is what is there.

Negation

没有 for 有, 不在 for 在.