Je vais chez le boucher.

Question

Why "Je vais chez le boucher" and not "Je vais au boucher" when for going to boulangerie and marché, the answers are " je vais à la boulangerie" and "je peux aller au marché"? Are there certain places we need to use "chez" instead of  "à"?

Accepted Answer

As Chris said, if it's the person you use "chez" - Je vais chez le boucher (I'm going to the butcher or hairdresser, doctor etc) But if it's the shop itself you use "à" - Je vais à la boucherie, je vais au supermarché (I'm going to the butcher shop, the supermarket etc). In this exercise it accepted either "je vais chez le boucher" or "je vais à la boucherie" as correct answers.

Answer

If there is a person or a profession involved, it is always chez. Chez le dentiste, chez le boulanger, etc.

Answer

Thank you very much, Chris and Paul!