Metto la carta sul tavolo e scrivo il nome.

In Italian, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• metto = I put
• scrivo = I write

So Metto la carta sul tavolo e scrivo il nome naturally means I put the paper on the table and write the name.

You can say Io metto... if you want emphasis, for example:

• Io metto la carta sul tavolo, non tu. = I’m putting the paper on the table, not you.

They are both in the present tense.

• metto = I put / I am putting
• scrivo = I write / I am writing

Like in Italian generally, the present tense can often translate into English in more than one way depending on context:

• I put
• I am putting

And:

• I write
• I am writing

Carta usually means paper, but it can also mean other things in different contexts, such as card or map.

In this sentence, la carta most likely means the paper.

It is feminine singular:

• la = feminine singular the
• carta = paper

So:

• la carta = the paper

A learner should know that carta is a broad word in Italian, and the exact meaning depends on context.

Because sul is the contracted form of su + il.

• su = on
• il = the
• su il becomes sul

So:

• sul tavolo = on the table

This kind of contraction is very common in Italian with prepositions and articles.

Other examples:

• su + lo = sullo
• su + la = sulla
• su + i = sui
• su + gli = sugli
• su + le = sulle

Italian often uses the definite article more regularly than English.

• il nome literally means the name

In many everyday situations, Italian prefers the article where English might sometimes leave it out or choose a different form. So scrivo il nome is completely natural Italian.

Whether English translates it as I write the name or sometimes more naturally I write down the name depends on context, but the Italian structure with il is normal.

It comes from scrivere = to write, and scrivo is the first person singular form.

Conjugation:

• io scrivo = I write
• tu scrivi = you write
• lui/lei scrive = he/she writes
• noi scriviamo = we write
• voi scrivete = you all write
• loro scrivono = they write

It is not fully regular in every form, so it is best learned as a common verb pattern rather than trying to guess every form from English.

Because both verbs have the same implied subject: I.

• Metto = I put
• scrivo = I write

Italian does not need to repeat the subject pronoun if it is the same and already clear. So the sentence flows naturally as:

• Metto la carta sul tavolo e scrivo il nome.
• I put the paper on the table and write the name.

If you repeated io, it would usually sound unnecessary unless you wanted emphasis.

E means and.

It connects the two actions:

• Metto la carta sul tavolo = I put the paper on the table
• scrivo il nome = I write the name

So the full sentence gives two linked actions done by the same person.

Be careful not to confuse:

• e = and
• è = is

The accent matters:

• e = and
• è = is

Grammatically, yes: carta can mean different things depending on context. But in this sentence, paper is the most likely meaning.

For example:

• carta di credito = credit card
• carta d’identità = identity card
• carta geografica = map

On its own, la carta often means the paper, unless the situation clearly suggests another meaning.

Nouns in Italian have grammatical gender, and tavolo is a masculine noun.

So it takes the masculine singular article:

• il tavolo = the table

That is why after su + il, you get:

• sul tavolo

This is something you usually have to learn together with each noun:

• il tavolo
• la carta
• il nome

Yes, it is grammatically natural and easy to understand.

It has a very typical Italian structure:

• omitted subject pronoun
• present tense verbs
• article + noun
• contracted preposition + article

A native speaker might also say similar sentences such as:

• Metto il foglio sul tavolo e scrivo il nome.
• Appoggio la carta sul tavolo e scrivo il nome.

But the original sentence is perfectly normal as a learner example.