Verge vs. verse

[Kelly]

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #97 "How to assess employees", question 9

The industry is on the ......... of a colossal expansion.

(a) verse
(b) vermin
(c) volition
(d) verge

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #97 "How to assess employees", answer 9

The industry is on the verge of a colossal expansion.

Correct answer: (d) verge

Your answer was: incorrect
The industry is on the verse of a colossal expansion.
_________________________

Dear Tortens
Why we have to use verge and what does it mean in fact?

Hope can get your reply soon,

Thanks

Kelly

[Mister Micawber]

.
Verge = edge, border
Verse = lines of poetry
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Alan]

Hi Kelly,

Since verge has the meaning of edge, it is often used to describe a demarcation between two things as in grass verge, which is a section of grass alongside the road. This separates the area where you walk from where the traffic goes. In the test sentence the expression on the verge of suggests the idea of on the point of.