Learn Italian: Puoi domandare a Luca quand'è il prossimo appuntamento.

In English, the word order changes when a question becomes indirect (from 'when is the date?' to 'when the date is'). In Italian, the word order stays exactly the same as a direct question! You just take the original question (Quand'è il prossimo appuntamento?) and plug it directly after the introductory phrase.

Why do we say domandare a Luca with the preposition a?

In English, you 'ask someone', but in Italian, you always 'ask to someone'. Verbs like domandare and chiedere (to ask) require an indirect object for the person being asked. Therefore, you must use the preposition a before the person's name.

Is it mandatory to use the apostrophe in quand'è?

It is highly recommended. When quando is followed directly by è (is), the final o is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe to make pronunciation smoother. While writing quando è isn't strictly forbidden, quand'è is standard and sounds much more natural.

The translation says 'date', but doesn't appuntamento usually mean 'appointment'?

It means both! Appuntamento is the universal Italian word for a scheduled gathering. It can refer to a doctor's appointment, a casual meet-up with friends, or a romantic date. You simply rely on the context to know what kind of meeting it is.