Cubro la mesa con un mantel antes de cenar.

I cover the table with a tablecloth before dinner.

Breakdown of Cubro la mesa con un mantel antes de cenar.

• yo: I
• con: with
• la mesa: the table
• antes de: before

Questions & Answers about Cubro la mesa con un mantel antes de cenar.

What is the verb cubro, and why is it used here?

Cubro is the first person singular present indicative form of cubrir, which means “to cover.” It tells you that the speaker (yo) covers the table.

Why don’t we use pongo la mesa instead of cubro la mesa?

Poner la mesa means “to set the table” (i.e. arrange plates, utensils, glasses). Cubrir la mesa specifically means “to cover the table” (with a tablecloth).

Why is the preposition con necessary in con un mantel?

Con indicates the instrument or means you’re using. Without it, the sentence would lose how you cover the table (with what).

Why is la mesa definite (the table) but un mantel indefinite (a tablecloth)?

The speaker refers to a specific table (the one they’re about to use), so la mesa. The tablecloth isn’t previously specified, so un mantel (“a tablecloth”) is correct.

Could we say la cubro con un mantel instead of cubro la mesa con un mantel?

Yes. You can use a direct object pronoun: La cubro con un mantel. Here la stands for la mesa. Both sentences are grammatically fine.