Me pongo el delantal antes de cortar las verduras.

Because ponerse means to put on oneself, especially with clothing and accessories.

• poner = to put, place
• ponerse = to put on, to get dressed in

So:

• Pongo el libro en la mesa = I put the book on the table
• Me pongo el delantal = I put on the apron

The me shows that the action is being done to yourself.

Pongo is the first person singular present tense form of poner.

So:

• poner = infinitive, to put / to put on
• pongo = I put / I put on

In this sentence, the speaker is saying what they do, so Spanish uses the conjugated form:

• Me pongo el delantal = I put on the apron

Not:

• Me poner el delantal ❌

Also, poner is an irregular verb in the yo form:

• yo pongo
• tú pones
• él/ella pone

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already tells you who the subject is.

Here, pongo clearly means I put on, so yo is not necessary.

• (Yo) me pongo el delantal = both are correct
• The version without yo is more natural in most contexts

You would add yo only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity:

• Yo me pongo el delantal, pero tú no.

In Spanish, when talking about clothing, body parts, and personal items, it is very common to use the definite article (el, la, los, las) instead of a possessive like mi or tu, especially with reflexive verbs.

So Spanish prefers:

• Me pongo el delantal = literally I put the apron on myself

rather than:

• Me pongo mi delantal

Both can be correct, but el delantal sounds more natural in a neutral sentence.

Using mi delantal would usually add emphasis, contrast, or specify that it is my apron and not someone else’s.

Because with a conjugated verb, object/reflexive pronouns usually go before the verb in Spanish.

So:

• Me pongo el delantal

not:

• Pongo me el delantal ❌

With infinitives and gerunds, pronouns can attach to the end:

• Voy a ponerme el delantal
• Estoy poniéndome el delantal

But with a simple present-tense verb like pongo, the pronoun goes before it.

Because the fixed structure is:

antes de + infinitive

So:

• antes de cortar = before cutting
• antes de comer = before eating
• antes de salir = before leaving

You cannot normally say antes cortar in standard Spanish.

The de is required before an infinitive after antes.

Because after antes de, Spanish uses the infinitive when talking about an action in a general way and when no new subject is introduced.

So:

• antes de cortar las verduras = before cutting the vegetables

not:

• antes de corto las verduras ❌

If Spanish uses a full clause with a different or explicit subject, it usually changes structure:

• antes de que cortes las verduras = before you cut the vegetables

So in your sentence, antes de + infinitive is the normal pattern.

Spanish often uses the definite article more than English does.

Here, las verduras can mean:

• the vegetables in question
• the vegetables being prepared
• vegetables in this specific cooking situation

In English, we might naturally just say vegetables, but Spanish often prefers the article in context.

Compare:

• Corto las verduras
• Lavo los platos
• Abro la ventana

This does not always mean the speaker is being extra specific in a strong way; it is just normal Spanish usage.

It is the present simple.

• me pongo = I put on / I am putting on

In this kind of sentence, the present tense often describes a habit, routine, or a usual step in a sequence:

• Me pongo el delantal antes de cortar las verduras.

This can mean something like:

• I put on the apron before cutting the vegetables
• I usually put on the apron before cutting the vegetables

Spanish present tense is often a bit broader than the English present simple.

Yes. Very naturally.

Spanish present tense can describe:

• something happening now
• a regular habit
• a routine
• a general truth

So Me pongo el delantal antes de cortar las verduras could mean:

• I put on the apron before cutting the vegetables
• I usually put on the apron before cutting the vegetables

The exact meaning depends on context.

This is a very common question.

• ponerse = to put on
• llevar = to wear / have on

So:

• Me pongo el delantal = I put on the apron
• Llevo delantal / Llevo un delantal = I am wearing an apron

Your sentence focuses on the action of putting it on, not the state of already wearing it.

This is the most natural neutral word order in Spanish.

Basic structure:

• Me pongo el delantal = main action
• antes de cortar las verduras = time expression explaining when

Spanish word order is flexible, but this version sounds normal and clear.

You could also say:

• Antes de cortar las verduras, me pongo el delantal.

This puts more emphasis on the before cutting the vegetables part, but the meaning stays the same.

Delantal is a standard Spanish word and is widely understood, including in Spain.

It means apron.

In Spain, this is a very normal word. In other Spanish-speaking regions, it is also common, though some places may use other clothing-related words in different contexts. For a learner, delantal is absolutely a good standard word to know.

No, that is also correct, but it means something slightly different.

• Me pongo el delantal = I put on the apron

  • probably a specific apron known in the context
  • also very natural because Spanish often uses the definite article with clothing

• Me pongo un delantal = I put on an apron

  • any apron / one apron
  • less specific

So both are possible, but el delantal is very natural in this sentence.

Not always.

If the subject stays the same or is understood, Spanish usually uses:

• antes de + infinitive

Example:

• Me pongo el delantal antes de cortar las verduras.

But if a new subject appears, Spanish often uses:

• antes de que + subjunctive

Example:

• Me pongo el delantal antes de que empieces a cortar las verduras.
• I put on the apron before you start cutting the vegetables.

So this sentence uses the simpler structure because it refers to the same person and action sequence.