mettre le couvert vs. mettre la table

On 5.9, Food and Wine, part 1 where Hélène was asked to set the table. The phrase was mettre le couvert but not mettre la table. Why? Pourquoi?

In French "mettre la table" would mean putting the table somewhere as in "Where should I put this table?" (Ou est-ce que je dois mettre cette table?) Whereas you are talking about setting tableware on the table. Hope that helps. Sorry for the lack of vowels - I'm only able to access Spanish vowels as I'm studying Spanish). Bon courage dans vos études! Lisa (french speaker)

Lisa, Merci beaucoup, vous avez aidé.

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