ADVERBS WITH THE MEANING OF A HIGH, VERY HIGH AND EXTREME DEGREE OF FEATURE INTENSIFICATION

The article presents the classifi cation of degree adverbs почти, очень, много, совершенно, совсем with the meaning of high, very high and extreme degree of feature intensifi cation, and also revealed the patterns of their combination with attributive lexemes. A common feature of degree adverbs is the possibility of combining them with lexemes that express some sort of intensity.
Each of the degree adverbs has its own valence characteristics due to the historical development of the language, as well as the semantics of the lexemes that form word combinations with them. Depending on whether the meanings of the words are based on objective quantitative indicators (speed, temperature, radiation energy, etc.) or correlate with uncertain subjective-evaluative values indicating physical, emotional or mental states, they will interact diff erently with the adverbs meaning high, very high and extreme degree of feature intensifi cation.
Another factor determining the possibility of combining adverbs of degree with attributive lexemes is the positive or negative status of these words in the minds of native speakers. The adverb почти, indicating a very high degree of approximation to the feature, is used with lexemes of positive semantics. The adverbs совсем, совершенно, expressing the extreme degree of feature intensifi cation, are combined with lexemes of negative semantics.
Очень is mostly used with adjectives and verbs expressing feelings and emotions of both positive and negative semantics, but with lexemes denoting physical or mental states, its use is limited. The adverb совсем is combined with the words expressing objective characteristics (visual, gustatory, tactile, etc.), the adverb совершенно — with the words of abstract meaning.