I was on the verge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was on the verge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is very close to experiencing something, often an emotional or significant event. Example: "I was on the verge of tears when I heard the news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

At one stop, a news crew boarded the train, and I was on the verge of having a panic attack.

Vice

I was on the verge of an unwanted puberty.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was on the verge of crying every single time.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was on the verge of getting them to conquer skiing, when Ben had his accident.

The New York Times

Far from killing books, my iPad has restored something I was on the verge of losing.

The New York Times - Books

I became bankrupt and it felt like I was on the verge of dying.

The Guardian

My doctor said I was on the verge of a heart attack.

The Guardian - Sport

'All the way through that flight I was on the verge of screaming,' al-Rawi said.

The Guardian

Reading this book, I often had the feeling that I was on the verge of Understanding.

The New York Times - Books

My blood sugar level had dropped dramatically and I was on the verge of blacking out.

The Guardian

I was feeling like I was on the verge of getting really hot.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was on the verge" to effectively convey a sense of anticipation, imminence, or near completion of an action or state. For example, "I was on the verge of tears" powerfully communicates a strong emotional state.

Common error

While generally appropriate, consider whether a simpler phrase like "I almost..." might be more suitable in very informal settings to avoid sounding overly dramatic or stiff.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was on the verge" functions as part of a sentence to indicate that the subject was extremely close to experiencing something, whether it be an action, a state, or an emotion. As shown in Ludwig, it suggests a high degree of probability or imminence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was on the verge" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to convey the idea of being extremely close to a particular state, action, or emotion. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is considered appropriate for various contexts. The phrase finds frequent usage in news and media. When aiming for simpler or more informal communication, alternatives like "I was about to" or "I nearly" can be employed. While "I was on the verge" is generally versatile, be mindful of potentially sounding overdramatic in very casual scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was about to

Indicates immediate intention or anticipation of an action, simplifying the original phrase.

I nearly

Highlights the near completion or occurrence of an event, action, or state.

I was close to

Emphasizes the proximity to an emotional state or action, similar to being on the edge of something.

I stood on the brink of

Uses "brink" to highlight the precariousness and potential impact of the imminent event.

I found myself nearing

Emphasizes the gradual approach towards a situation or feeling, adding a sense of passive progression.

I was on the edge of

Suggests a state of excitement or anxiety before something happens, replacing "verge" with "edge".

I approached

This is a more straightforward way of saying someone was getting close to something.

I was within a hair's breadth of

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something was avoided or achieved.

I was heading towards

Indicates a direction or trajectory toward a specific outcome or state.

I was in danger of

Highlights potential negative consequences that almost occurred, focusing on risk.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I was on the verge" to sound less formal?

You can use phrases like "I was about to", "I nearly", or "I was close to". These alternatives are less formal and maintain a similar meaning to "I was on the verge".

What's the difference between "I was on the verge of" and "I was about to"?

"I was on the verge of" implies a higher degree of imminence and emotional intensity, while "I was about to" simply indicates that something was going to happen soon.

Is it correct to say "I am on the verge" or should it always be past tense?

While "I was on the verge" is common, "I am on the verge" is also correct when describing a current state of imminence. The tense depends on the timeframe you're describing.

Are there any synonyms for "verge" in the phrase "I was on the verge"?

Yes, you can replace "verge" with words like "brink", "edge", or "cusp" to create similar phrases, such as "I was on the brink of" or "I was on the edge of".