Why "dal"?
Hi!
I am studying Italian and am currently at level A1-A2. Right now, I am studying "preposizioni."
I am doing an exercise where I need to complete a phrase. The first one is already filled in as an example. It says:
1. Sto male (the answer is) "vado dal dottore."

Why is the answer "vado DAL dottore?" Why is it not "vado AL dottore?" Can anyone explain this grammatical rule?

Thank you.

Question

Why "dal"?
Hi!
I am studying Italian and am currently at level A1-A2. Right now, I am studying "preposizioni."
I am doing an exercise where I need to complete a phrase. The first one is already filled in as an example. It says:
1. Sto male  (the answer is) "vado dal dottore."

Why is the answer "vado DAL dottore?" Why is it not "vado AL dottore?" Can anyone explain this grammatical rule?

Thank you.

Answer

Hi Patricia,
As you probably know, the verb vado (andare) can be followed by 3 prepositions: a, in, da.
In your exemple the preposition is DA becouse dottore is a person. 
The rule is that when "andare" is going to a person, the preposition is always DA (with or without article, depending on the case) 
Esempi:
vado da Mario, vado da Giuseppe, vado da un mio amico, vado dal parrucchiere, vado da mamma, vado da mio zio, vado da tua sorella...
ok? :)

Answer

Thank you Professora Annarita!
That makes perfect sense.

Answer

Ciao Patricia! 
We use the preposition DA + article when the place you are going to is expressed by a person ("dottore").

Buono studio, 
Annarita