Non ci tiene all'etica, e neanche alla coerenza.

Questions & Answers about Non ci tiene all'etica, e neanche alla coerenza.

If all'etica already means 'about ethics', why do we need the pronoun ci in ci tiene? Doesn't ci normally replace an a phrase?
Yes, normally ci replaces a phrase starting with a. However, in the pronominal verb tenerci (to care about), the ci is crystallized as a permanent part of the verb's identity. Even when you explicitly state the object you care about using a (like all'etica), the ci must stay.
Why do we use all' and alla here instead of just the direct objects l'etica and la coerenza?
Because the verb tenerci requires the preposition a to connect to the thing you care about. You must combine this a with the definite articles of the nouns, giving you all'etica (a + l') and alla coerenza (a + la).
Is non ... neanche a double negative, and is that allowed?
Yes, it is a double negative, which is grammatically required in Italian here. When negative words like neanche (not even), mai (never), or nessuno (nobody) come after the verb, you must put a non before the verb to support them.
Could I use né... né (neither... nor) in this sentence instead of e neanche?
You could say Non ci tiene né all'etica né alla coerenza, which means he cares about neither ethics nor consistency. Using e neanche (and not even) instead gives a slightly different nuance, making his lack of consistency feel like an emphasized, almost dismissive afterthought.

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