Prepositions and pronouns

Question 1

Denote recipient of an action

Answer 1

a
Dico ai figli di comportarsi bene.
A Carlo gli ho hatto un caffè.
Often not expressed in English

Question 2

To express place

Answer 2

a (to, at, in)
location (in, at, on): Abito a Bologna
motion to (to) Vado a roma
direction & distance (no equiv): Girare a destra
on body (in, round, on): È ferito al braccio
non-literal (on, in): L’ho sentito alla radio

da (where from, motion from/through/to)
origins (where from); dalla Francia
distance (from): Quanto dista da Milano?
motion away (from, out of): parte dal binario 2
motion thru (through, by): passati da Ginevra
motion to (to): Vado dal medico

Question 3

A vs In vs Da

Answer 3

A expresses more a function or reason
In more about physically being in the place
Da focuses on a person