On the Lexical Combinability of Adverbs Expressing Full Degree with Verbs (Based on the German Language)

Abstract

This article examines the lexical combinability of adverbs expressing a full degree with verbs in the German language. Particular attention is paid to the semantic, lexical, and contextual factors that determine the compatibility of degree adverbs with different classes of verbs. The study considers adverbs that express the meanings of completeness, intensity, maximum degree, and exhaustion, and analyzes their ability to combine with action, state, process, and resultative verbs. The research demonstrates that the combinability of such adverbs is not determined solely by grammatical compatibility but is also closely related to the lexical-semantic characteristics of the verb, its aspectual meaning, argument structure, and contextual interpretation. It is established that adverbs expressing a full degree tend to combine more naturally with verbs denoting measurable, bounded, or result-oriented situations, while their combination with stative and unbounded verbs may require specific contextual conditions. The article also identifies the role of semantic compatibility and contextual modification in determining the degree of naturalness of verb-adverb combinations. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of German lexical combinatorics and may be useful for the study of German vocabulary, phraseology, semantics, and practical language teaching.