confusion

[narrow wyvern]

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confusion

[wild kraken]

Hey John
The phrase "venir d’aussi loin" and "venir de si loin" are both grammatically correct but they convey slightly different nuances

"Venir d'aussi loin"
The use of "aussi" here implies a comparison or a sense of emphasis. It suggests that the distance is notably far, perhaps more than what was expected or usual. I would say that in this context, it emphasizes the surprising or unexpected nature of someone coming from such a great distance for something that seems trivial or insignificant

"Venir de si loin"**
This phrase would also mean coming from far away but "si" generally indicates a high degree without the comparative nuance. It would be more neutral and simply states that the distance is far, without the additional emphasis or comparison implied by the word "aussi" that they used

In the context of the sentence that you provided, "Je ne pensais pas qu’on pouvait venir d’aussi loin pour si peu de chose," the use of "aussi" strengthens the idea that the speaker finds it surprising or noteworthy that someone would come from such a far distance for something so little. "Aussi loin" adds a sense of incredulity or emphasis that "si loin" might not convey as strongly

Why use imparfait and not the past conditional?
The sentence uses the imparfait ("pouvait") instead of the "conditionnel passé" for a few reasons related to French grammar and the context of the sentence but the short answer is that the imparfait is used here because the sentence is about the speaker's past belief or understanding of what was possible, without introducing a hypothetical scenario (which would require the "conditionnel passé"). The "imparfait" keeps the narrative in the past and consistent with the speaker's thoughts or beliefs at that time

[hollow thunder]

Ahh thank you 👍

[restive hollow]

So like
In "si loin", "so" functions as a simple intesifier

And "aussi loin" with "so" functioning more like "this far / as far as it is"

Ig

(Taking English as a common point of reference)

[neon portal]

Why wouldn’t « Je ne pensais pas qu’on pouvait venir… » use the subjunctive?

[restive hollow]

En gros because there's no uncertainty

It's really a declaration that you now do know what you first thought you did not

Y'understand ?

[wild kraken]

This sentence doesn’t use the subjunctive because the verb "pouvait" is describing a past action or possibility that the speaker believed to be true or possible at the time.
The speaker is expressing a past belief or thought about a factual situation (whether or not it was possible to come from far away). Since this is a statement about a past reality rather than a hypothetical or uncertain event, the imparfait is used

• Imparfait: "Je ne pensais pas qu’on pouvait venir d’aussi loin."
  The speaker is referring to what they believed to be possible or factual.
• Subjunctive: "Je ne pense pas qu’on puisse venir d’aussi loin." The speaker is expressing doubt or uncertainty in the present.