 In addition to their uses with numbers and demonstratives , classifiers have some other functions . A classifier placed after a noun expresses a plural or indefinite quantity of it . For example , <unk> ( shū @-@ běn , book @-@ CL ) means " the books " ( e.g. on a shelf , or in a library ) , whereas the standard pre @-@ nominal construction <unk> ( yì běn shū , one @-@ CL book ) means " one book " . 
