Spanish usually leaves out subject pronouns when they are obvious from the verb form or context.
So instead of saying:
Spanish normally just says:
The verb pon already shows that the speaker is talking to you informally.
Including tú is possible, but it usually adds emphasis, contrast, or emotion.
Literally, yes, poner often means to put, but poner la mesa is an idiomatic expression meaning:
So in this sentence, Pon la mesa does not mean physically moving a table. It means putting out plates, cutlery, glasses, etc.
This is a very common everyday expression in Spanish.
Because the sentence is followed by a conjugated verb: lleguen.
Spanish commonly uses:
Examples:
So here, since there is a full clause with its own verb (lleguen), antes de que is the correct structure.
Because antes de que normally triggers the subjunctive when it refers to an action that has not happened yet.
In this sentence:
the parents have not arrived yet. Their arrival is a future event from the speaker’s point of view, so Spanish uses the subjunctive:
This is one of the most common uses of the subjunctive: after conjunctions like antes de que, when the action is pending or anticipated.
Because after antes de que, Spanish uses the subjunctive, not the indicative.
So:
Even though English says before my parents arrive, Spanish grammar requires the subjunctive here.
Because the subject is mis padres = my parents, which is plural.
So the verb has to agree with the subject:
Here it is subjunctive plural:
Yes. That is completely correct.
Both are natural:
Spanish word order is often more flexible than English. The version in your sentence is very natural, especially because Spanish often places the verb before the subject in subordinate clauses.
There is little difference in meaning. It is mostly a matter of style, rhythm, or emphasis.
Because in Spanish, a possessive adjective like mi, mis, tu, su, nuestro normally comes instead of the article, not with it.
So you say:
not:
This is different from some older forms or some other Romance languages, but in modern standard Spanish, mis padres is correct.
Yes. That is a very good English equivalent, especially in British English.
Possible translations include:
The Spanish structure stays the same, but English may choose different natural expressions depending on region.
If you were speaking to usted instead of tú, the command would change:
If you were speaking to several people in Spain (vosotros), it would be:
So the part that changes is the command verb, not antes de que lleguen mis padres.