Ponemos el mantel en la mesa y sacamos los cubiertos.

We put the tablecloth on the table and take out the cutlery.

Breakdown of Ponemos el mantel en la mesa y sacamos los cubiertos.

• nosotros: we
• y: and
• la mesa: the table
• en: on
• .: period
• poner: to put
• sacar: to take out
• el mantel: the tablecloth
• los cubiertos: the cutlery

Questions & Answers about Ponemos el mantel en la mesa y sacamos los cubiertos.

What tense and person are the verbs ponemos and sacamos?

They are present indicative, first-person plural (we). Spanish uses this form both for general habits and for actions happening now or soon.

Could I also say it as “we’re putting/taking out” right now?

Yes. Spanish often uses the simple present for ongoing actions. If you want to make the “right now” idea explicit, use the progressive: Estamos poniendo el mantel y estamos sacando los cubiertos.

Why el mantel and not la mantel?

Because mantel is a masculine noun in Spanish. Hence: el mantel. Not all nouns ending in -el are masculine, but many are, and mantel is one of them.

Is there a more general way to say this, like “set the table”?

Yes: poner la mesa means “to set the table” (the whole process). Poner el mantel is specifically “to put the tablecloth on.” So you could say: Ponemos la mesa if you mean the entire task.

Why en la mesa and not sobre la mesa or encima de la mesa?

• en la mesa = on the table; the most neutral, common choice.
• sobre la mesa = on top of the table; slightly more explicit/formal.
• encima de la mesa = on top of the table; a bit more spatially vivid.
  All three are fine here.

Does sacar los cubiertos mean “to set the cutlery on the table”?

Not exactly. Sacar is “to take out” (e.g., from a drawer). To place them on the table, you’d use poner/colocar:

• Sacamos los cubiertos (del cajón) = We take the cutlery out (of the drawer).
• Ponemos/Colocamos los cubiertos en la mesa = We put the cutlery on the table.

What exactly are los cubiertos in Spain?

They’re eating utensils: typically cuchillos, tenedores, cucharas (knives, forks, spoons). The word cubertería refers to the whole set of cutlery (or fancy silverware as an item), and vajilla is the dishes/crockery.

Can I drop the articles like in English (“put tablecloth on table”)?

No. Spanish normally requires articles: Ponemos el mantel en la mesa. Without articles (mantel, mesa) it sounds ungrammatical or telegraphic. Use un/unos if you mean nonspecific items: Ponemos un mantel y sacamos unos cubiertos.

How would I say “Let’s put the tablecloth on and take out the cutlery”?

Use the inclusive imperative (subjunctive): Pongamos el mantel y saquemos los cubiertos.
Alternatively: Vamos a poner el mantel y a sacar los cubiertos.

How do direct object pronouns work here?

• Los replaces los cubiertos: Los sacamos (We take them out).
• Lo replaces el mantel: Lo ponemos en la mesa (We put it on the table).
  Agreement is with the grammatical gender/number of the noun, not with the speaker.

Where do those pronouns go with different verb forms?

• Before a conjugated verb: Los sacamos. Lo ponemos.
• Attached to an infinitive or gerund: Vamos a ponerlo / Estamos poniéndolo.
• Attached to affirmative imperatives: Pongámoslo; Saquémoslos.
  (Note the written accent when attaching to a gerund or nosotros imperative.)

Any regional differences (Spain vs Latin America) I should know here?

The sentence works anywhere. Cubiertos is widely understood across the Spanish-speaking world. Some countries also say cubería/cubertería in certain contexts, but cubiertos is safe and common.

Pronunciation tips?

• mantel: stress on the last syllable (man-TEL).
• cubiertos: the b/v sound is the same; stress on the second syllable (cu-BIER-tos).
• ponemos, sacamos, mesa: all stress the penultimate syllable.
• The conjunction y is pronounced like English “ee.”

Is it necessary to say where we take the cutlery from?

No. It’s often understood (usually the drawer). If you want to add it: Sacamos los cubiertos del cajón.

Can I change the word order?

Some movement is fine: En la mesa ponemos el mantel is acceptable. But be careful with attachment: Ponemos el mantel y sacamos los cubiertos en la mesa sounds like you’re taking the cutlery out “on the table.” If you want to add a location only to the first verb, keep it close: Ponemos el mantel en la mesa y sacamos los cubiertos.

Are there good synonyms for poner el mantel?

• Colocar el mantel = place/put (a bit more formal/careful).
• Extender/Desplegar el mantel = spread/unfold the tablecloth (focus on the action of spreading).
  Tender el mantel is uncommon today; tender is more for clothes.