(1) verge on/upon意为“濒临，接近，即将”，可用于地理位置，也可引申表示“几乎是，简直是”，这时可与border on/upon, touch on/upon换用。
- Our farm verges on/upon theirs.
我们的农场和他们的紧挨着。 - Your behavior verges on madness. (You're verging on madness.)
你的行为简直是发疯。 - He took over the firm at a time when it was verging on bankruptcy/liquidation.
他在公司即将破产时接管了它。 - These remarks of yours were so inconsiderate as to verge/touch/border on the offensive.
你的这些话如此欠考虑，简直是无礼冒犯。 - His manner was very impolite, verging/bordering/touching on rudeness.
他的行为很不礼貌，简直是粗鲁无礼。
(2) be on the verge of 指“濒临，接近”；bring sb. to the verge of 指“使某人濒临(快要)……”。
- She is on the verge of 20.
她快满二十岁了。 - She was brought to the verge of bursting into tears.
她被弄得马上就要哭了。
(3) border on/upon指“与……毗连；接界；接近”，用于引申，可表示“近乎是……；几乎是”，可与verge on/upon, touch on/upon换用。
- The park borders upon the shores of the lake.
这个公园与湖岸毗连。 - This proposal of yours borders/verges on the absurd.
你的建议简直是荒唐可笑。 - Your behavior borders on madness.
你的行为简直是发疯了。
(4) (be) on the border of指“在……边缘上；毗邻；快要；接近”。
- We camped on the border of a beautiful lake.
我们在美丽的湖边扎下营。 - They are on the border of starvation.
他们快要饿死了。 - He is on the border of 50.
他接近50岁。
(5) touch on/upon可作“提及，触及(话题等)；近乎是；简直是；触摸(某人、身体的某部位)”解，作“近乎是，简直是” 解时可与verge on/upon, border on/upon换用。
- Our conversation touched on some major problems facing the nation.
我们的谈话触及国家面临的一些主要问题。 - In her remarks on child care, she touched upon the importance of nutrition.
在她关于照料幼儿的讲话中，她提及营养的重要性。 - Suddenly I felt someone touching me on the arm to attract my attention.
突然我感到有人碰我的胳膊以引起我注意。 - Such actions touch on betrayal.
这样的行为简直是背叛。 - His remarks were more than slightly unsuitable; they touched on the offensive.
他的话不仅仅是有点儿不合适，它们简直是令人讨厌。
(6) abut on/upon指“与……毗连；紧靠……”，通常指土地或建筑物，是较正式的用语，在此意义上可与verge on/upon, border on/upon换用。
- Our college abuts on a park.
我们学院与公园毗连。 - The building abuts on the street.
这座大楼紧靠街道。
