Abstract
The paper is focused on semantic peculiarities, derivational restrictions and specific combinatory properties of the lexical units in gradual paradigms of глубокий [‘deep’] – неглубокий [‘not deep’] – мелкий [‘shallow’], широкий [‘wide’] – неширокий [‘not wide’] – узкий [‘narrow’] type in Russian. Among factors which determine the speakers’ pragmatic attitudes to the nonidentity of gradual paradigm member properties, the hyperonymic status of adjectives – general designations of some parameter (глубокий, широкий), type and significance of semantic modifications (negation, insufficient degree, etc.) are thought to be the leading ones.