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Antes de salir, apago el ordenador.

Antes de salir, apago el ordenador.
Before going out, I turn off the computer.
From Lesson 159:Before, after and when (antes de comer, cuando llego)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Antes de salir, apago el ordenador.

Why is it salir instead of a word ending in -iendo for 'going out'?
In English, we say 'before going out' with an -ing word. But in Spanish, whenever a verb comes directly after a preposition like de, you must use the infinitive (the basic form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir). That is why we use the infinitive salir here.
Where is the word for 'I' in the second half of the sentence?
The word for 'I' is built right into the verb. The verb is apagar (to turn off), and the -o ending in apago tells us that 'I' am doing the action. You could say yo apago, but native speakers usually drop the yo unless they need to emphasize it.
Is ordenador the standard word for 'computer'?
It is the standard word in Spain! However, if you speak with people from Latin America, they almost always use computadora or computador instead.
Could I use cerrar (to close) to talk about shutting down the computer?
No, for powering down electronic devices and turning off lights, you must use apagar. You would only use cerrar if you are talking about closing a specific program or window on the screen, or physically closing a laptop lid.

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