---
title: verge — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «verge» in the school dictionary: A verge is the strip of grass beside a road or path. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# verge

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** verge, We, She, Scientists, joke, His · **What happens:** be, mean, do, happen, verge, walk · **To what, where:** strip, road, verge, something, thing, rude · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«verge» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [verge in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/verge.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A verge is the strip of grass beside a road or path.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:m1:1
# text = A verge is the strip of grass beside a road or path.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	strip	strip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	beside	beside	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	path	path	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a verge | the strip |  | a road or path |  | of grass | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
On the verge of means very close to doing something or to something happening, as in «on the verge of tears».

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:m2:1
# text = On the verge of means very close to doing something or to something happening, as in «on the verge of tears».
1	On	on	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	very	very	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
8	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
9	doing	do	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
10	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	conj	_	_
14	happening	happen	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
16	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	21	mark	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	on	on	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obl	_	_
22	of	of	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
23	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	21	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  | the verge |  | close *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **do** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **happen** | gerund |  |  |  | the verge of tears |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in verge=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To verge on something means to be almost that thing, as in «verging on rude».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:m3:1
# text = To verge on something means to be almost that thing, as in «verging on rude».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	verge	verge	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
8	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
14	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	verging	verge	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	appos	_	_
16	on	on	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	rude	rude	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **verge** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | something |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | that thing |  |  |  | almost *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **verge** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  | rude |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A verge can also be the edge of something, such as the edge of a stream or of a wide plain.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:m4:1
# text = A verge can also be the edge of something, such as the edge of a stream or of a wide plain.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
5	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	cop	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	edge	edge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	stream	stream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	wide	wide	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	plain	plain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | can | a verge | the edge |  |  |  | of something | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We walked along the grass verge to the farm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x1:1
# text = We walked along the grass verge to the farm.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	walked	walk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	along	along	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	grass	grass	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	farm	farm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past | We |  |  |  |  | along the grass verge; to the farm *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme to farm=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Park on the verge, not on the road.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x2:1
# text = Park on the verge, not on the road.
1	Park	park	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was on the verge of tears when she lost her dog.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x3:1
# text = She was on the verge of tears when she lost her dog.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tears	tear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	_
8	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	10	mark	_	_
9	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	lost	lose	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | She |  |  | the verge |  | of tears | tree rules |
| 2 | **lose** | past | she | her dog |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dog=Eventuality |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists are on the verge of a big discovery.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x4:1
# text = Scientists are on the verge of a big discovery.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	discovery	discovery	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Scientists |  |  | the verge |  | of a big discovery | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His joke verged on being mean.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x5:1
# text = His joke verged on being mean.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	verged	verge	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	6	cop	_	_
6	mean	mean	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **verge** | past | His joke |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | mean *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **joke** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Wildflowers grow on the road verges in summer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x6:1
# text = Wildflowers grow on the road verges in summer.
1	Wildflowers	wildflower	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	verges	verge	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	summer	summer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Wildflowers |  |  | the road verges in summer |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on verge=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
At the end of a village on the verge of the steppe dwelt two brothers, one rich and the other poor.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:verge:x7:1
# text = At the end of a village on the verge of the steppe dwelt two brothers, one rich and the other poor.
1	At	at	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	village	village	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	on	on	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	verge	verge	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	steppe	steppe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
13	dwelt	dwell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
14	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	15	nummod	_	_
15	brothers	brother	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
17	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	18	nummod	_	_
18	rich	rich	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
19	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	poor	poor	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **dwell** | past |  | two brothers |  |  | at the end of a village on the verge of the steppe |  | vn lodge-46 «NP V ADV»: agent=Theme brother=Location |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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