Question 1

Why is per niente placed right after the verb aumenta rather than at the end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

To strongly emphasize 'not at all', per niente must be placed immediately after the verb it modifies. If you put it at the very end (non aumenta il margine per niente), it sounds unnatural and loses its emphatic punch.

Question 2

Could I use affatto instead of per niente in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. You could say non aumenta affatto il margine. Both per niente and affatto act as emphatic negative reinforcements and follow the exact same rule: they must sit directly after the verb.

Question 3

Is inopportuno a false friend for the English word 'inopportune'?

Accepted Answer

It is a partial false friend. While it can mean 'ill-timed', in Italian it is used much more broadly to mean 'inappropriate', 'out of place', or 'unwise'. In the context of business investments, 'inappropriate' or 'ill-advised' is the most natural translation.

Question 4

The verb aumentare takes a direct object here (il margine). Doesn't it normally use essere in compound tenses?

Accepted Answer

Aumentare is a verb that can be both transitive (taking a direct object) and intransitive (no direct object). When it is transitive, like in this sentence where it increases something else, it uses avere in compound tenses (e.g., non ha aumentato per niente il margine). It only uses essere when it is intransitive (e.g., il margine non è aumentato).

Questo investimento inopportuno non aumenta per niente il margine.

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