Peculiarities of expressing the apprehensive in Russian

Abstract

The present paper deals with different ways of expressing apprehension in Russian by the verbal constructions using subordinating conjunctions как бы (не) and чтобы (не) and the -л-subjunctive verb form or infinitive. The formal structure of the constructions and the peculiarities of the synonymity of the conjunctions are examined in more detail. Special attention is given to the status of the negative particle не. We argue that negation in the apprehensive does not lose its semantic nature but its manifestations are uncommon due to the assertion-suspending contexts it operates within.