On the verge of means very close to, about to. The event hasn't happened yet, but it's very near: The small theatre was on the verge of closing. She was on the verge of tears, that is, about to cry. It works just as well for success: The team is on the verge of signing its first international deal.
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be on the verge of + noun or -ing
- The team is on the verge of signing its first international deal.
- She was on the verge of tears when the missing dog came home.
- The small theatre was on the verge of closing before the fundraiser.
What changed
First versionThe team is on the verge of sign its first international deal.
RevisionThe team is on the verge of signing its first international deal.
About to sign is correct, so on the verge of sign feels natural too. But of is a preposition, and the verb after it takes -ing: on the verge of signing.
About to also means 'very soon', but takes the base form: We're about to sign the deal. On the verge of takes -ing or a noun: on the verge of signing, on the verge of success. It also sounds more dramatic: it's about a turning point.
Your turn
The discovery is very close: The researchers are on the verge of ___ a solution.
Show the answer
finding — After of the verb takes -ing: on the verge of finding. Find without the ending can't follow a preposition.
Describe a moment when you almost gave up something important, such as studies, a sport or a project, in one sentence with on the verge of.
I was on the verge of quitting the piano when I finally passed my first exam.
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