Après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine.

In French, meals usually take a definite article:

• le déjeuner = lunch
• le dîner = dinner
• le petit déjeuner = breakfast

So après le déjeuner is the normal way to say after lunch.

French often uses an article where English does not. English says after lunch, but French prefers après le déjeuner.

You may sometimes hear article-less expressions in certain contexts, but for a learner, après le déjeuner is the safest and most standard choice here.

Débarrasser la table is a fixed everyday expression meaning:

• to clear the table
• to remove the dishes, glasses, cutlery, etc. after a meal

So débarrasser here does not mean to clean the table surface itself. It means taking things off it.

A useful contrast is:

• débarrasser la table = clear the table
• nettoyer la table = clean the table

Because débarrasser can be used directly with an object.

Here, la table is the direct object of the verb:

• débarrasser la table = clear the table

French also has another pattern:

• débarrasser quelqu’un de quelque chose = to rid someone of something

For example:

• Je débarrasse Paul de ses cartons. = I help Paul by taking the boxes off his hands.

But in your sentence, the expression is simply débarrasser la table.

French often uses the definite article where English might use a possessive or leave things more implicit.

So:

• je débarrasse la table
• Paul nettoie la cuisine

sounds natural in French when the context already makes it clear whose table or kitchen is meant.

English sometimes says I clear the table and Paul cleans the kitchen, so this is actually fairly similar. But French uses the definite article very regularly in these everyday household expressions.

Use pendant before a noun, and pendant que before a clause with a verb.

In your sentence:

• pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine

This is correct because Paul nettoie la cuisine is a full clause with a subject and verb.

Compare:

• pendant le déjeuner = during lunch
• pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine = while Paul cleans the kitchen

So a simple rule is:

• pendant + noun
• pendant que + subject + verb

French present tense can describe:

• what is happening now
• a habitual action
• a general routine

So this sentence could mean either:

• something happening right now, or
• a usual division of chores after lunch

That is very normal in French, just as in English.

For regular habits, French often uses the simple present:

• Après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table...

It can mean After lunch, I clear the table... as a routine.

The comma separates the introductory time phrase from the main clause.

• Après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table...

This is very natural in writing because Après le déjeuner sets the time frame first.

The sentence would still be understandable without the comma in some contexts, but the comma is standard and helps readability.

Yes. French allows that.

For example:

• Pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine, je débarrasse la table.

This means the same thing.

The main difference is emphasis:

• Après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine.
  This starts with the time phrase, then gives the two actions.

• Pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine, je débarrasse la table.
  This puts more focus on the simultaneity of the two actions.

Both are natural.

Because the subject is Paul, which is he, so the verb must be in the il/elle/on form of the present tense.

The verb is nettoyer = to clean.

Present tense:

• je nettoie
• tu nettoies
• il/elle/on nettoie
• nous nettoyons
• vous nettoyez
• ils/elles nettoient

So Paul nettoie is correct because Paul takes the same form as il.

It is one of the most common and direct ways to say while when two actions happen at the same time.

In your sentence, pendant que is perfect.

French also has alors que, but that often suggests contrast rather than simple simultaneity.

Compare:

• pendant que = while, at the same time as
• alors que = while, whereas

So here, because the sentence is just describing two simultaneous household actions, pendant que is the most natural choice.

Yes, a few points often matter for English speakers:

• déjeuner: the j sound is the French soft zh sound, like the s in measure
• débarrasse: the final -e is silent
• nettoie: the ending sounds roughly like nét-wa, not like English net-toy

A useful warning:

• nettoie is pronounced as one flowing word, not as three separate syllables in the English style.

Also, many final consonants in French are silent unless followed by a linking sound in connected speech.

You may occasionally hear shorter expressions in fast or informal speech, but après le déjeuner is the standard form and the best choice for learners.

French normally keeps the article with meal names:

• avant le dîner
• après le déjeuner
• pendant le petit déjeuner

So unless you have a strong reason to imitate a very specific informal style, use après le déjeuner.

It can be either, depending on context.

French present tense leaves that open:

• It can describe what is happening right now.
• It can describe a usual habit.

If you wanted to make it clearly habitual, context would usually do that:

• Tous les jours, après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine.

If you wanted to make it clearly about something happening now, context would also help:

• En ce moment, après le déjeuner, je débarrasse la table pendant que Paul nettoie la cuisine.

So the sentence by itself is flexible, which is very normal in French.