Si vas a exprimir las naranjas, usa la tabla solo para la fruta y no para el ajo.

Because ir a + infinitive is a very common Spanish structure for talking about a near future action or an intention.

• vas a exprimir = you’re going to squeeze
• si = if
• las naranjas = the oranges

So:

• Si vas a exprimir las naranjas = If you’re going to juice/squeeze the oranges

In everyday English, we would often translate exprimir here as juice rather than literally squeeze, even though the literal meaning is to squeeze.

Both can work, but they are not exactly the same in tone.

• si vas a exprimir las naranjas = if you’re going to juice the oranges
  • focuses on intention or planned action
• si exprimes las naranjas = if you juice the oranges
  • more direct, more like a general condition

In this sentence, vas a exprimir sounds natural because it refers to something the person may be about to do.

Because this is a real or likely condition, not a hypothetical or impossible one.

With si, Spanish normally uses:

• present indicative for real/possible situations
  
  • Si vas a exprimir...
• imperfect subjunctive for unlikely/hypothetical situations
  
  • Si fueras a exprimir... = If you were going to squeeze...

So si vas a exprimir is correct because the speaker is talking about a normal possible situation.

Spanish often uses the definite article where English does not.

Here, las naranjas can mean:

• the specific oranges being discussed, or
• oranges in this context, as the known item involved

English often drops the article in similar situations, but Spanish frequently keeps it:

• Lava las manos = Wash your hands
• Cierra la puerta = Close the door
• Exprime las naranjas = Squeeze the oranges

So las naranjas sounds natural in Spanish.

Exprimir means to squeeze, especially to extract juice.

For fruit:

• exprimir naranjas = to squeeze oranges
• hacer zumo de naranja = to make orange juice

They are related, but not identical:

• exprimir focuses on the physical action
• hacer zumo focuses on the result

In Spain, zumo is the usual word for juice. In much of Latin America, jugo is more common.

Here la tabla means the board, specifically a cutting board or chopping board, not a dining table.

That can confuse English speakers because tabla looks a bit like table, but:

• tabla = board/plank/chart/table in some contexts
• mesa = table, as furniture

Since the sentence mentions fruit and garlic, la tabla clearly means the cutting board.

Because this is an affirmative tú command.

The verb is usar:

• tú usas = you use
• affirmative command: usa = use

So:

• usa la tabla = use the board

Compare:

• Usa la tabla. = Use the board.
• No uses la tabla... = Don’t use the board...

Notice that negative commands do use the subjunctive form:

• no uses

But affirmative tú commands use the third-person singular indicative form:

• usa

Yes. If the speaker wanted to be more formal, they could say:

• Si va a exprimir las naranjas, use la tabla solo para la fruta y no para el ajo.

Changes:

• vas → va
• usa → use

The original sentence uses tú, which is normal in informal conversation.

Modern standard Spanish usually writes solo without an accent, even when it means only.

So here:

• solo = only

Older usage often wrote sólo to distinguish it from solo meaning alone, but current spelling rules generally prefer solo without the accent unless there is real ambiguity.

So usa la tabla solo para la fruta is the standard modern spelling.

Because repeating para makes the contrast very clear:

• for fruit
• not for garlic

Spanish often repeats prepositions in coordinated phrases when contrasting two uses or purposes.

So:

• para la fruta y no para el ajo
  = for the fruit and not for the garlic

You may sometimes hear less repetition in other sentences, but here the repeated para sounds natural and clear.

This is mostly about how those nouns are being used.

• la fruta can be a general category: fruit
• el ajo refers to garlic as a substance/ingredient

Spanish often uses the definite article with foods and ingredients in a general sense:

• la fruta = fruit
• el ajo = garlic
• el pan = bread
• la carne = meat

So the sentence is contrasting two food categories on the cutting board:

• fruit
• garlic

Because garlic is often treated as an uncountable ingredient, just as in English.

• el ajo = garlic in general
• los ajos = garlic cloves / garlic bulbs / kinds of garlic, depending on context

Here the meaning is general: don’t use the board for garlic, because the smell or taste could transfer. So el ajo is the natural choice.

Yes, that would also be correct:

• Si vas a exprimir las naranjas, usa la tabla solo para la fruta y no la uses para el ajo.

That version repeats the object more explicitly:

• no la uses = don’t use it

The original sentence is shorter and more natural in many everyday contexts:

• usa la tabla solo para la fruta y no para el ajo

Both are correct.

Yes, it is perfectly natural. In Spain, you might also hear:

• hacer zumo de naranja
• exprimir naranjas

If the context is breakfast or fresh juice, Spanish from Spain often prefers zumo rather than jugo.

So a Spain-style version could also be:

• Si vas a hacer zumo de naranja, usa la tabla solo para la fruta y no para el ajo.

But the original sentence is completely natural.

It has two main parts:

1. Si vas a exprimir las naranjas

   • conditional clause: If you’re going to squeeze the oranges

2. usa la tabla solo para la fruta y no para el ajo

   • main clause with a command: use the board only for fruit and not for garlic

So the pattern is:

• Si + present/normal condition, + command

This is very common in Spanish:

• Si sales, cierra la puerta.
  If you go out, close the door.
• Si lo ves, dímelo.
  If you see him, tell me.

The sentence is giving practical advice or an instruction based on a possible action.