fail, miss
这两个词都可以作“不成”解。它们的区别在于:miss通常要搭用动名词短语; 而fail通常要搭用动词不定式。例如:
The squirrel was lucky that it missed being caught.那个松鼠很幸运,恰好没有被抓住。
I have failed to catch the train.我没有搭上那班火车。
下面三句意思相同:
John failed to pass the examination.
John failed in the examination.
John failed the examination.
约翰考试没有及格。
下面两句意思不同:
Mr. Hansen failed to come this morning.
汉森先生今天早晨没有来成。
(原因也许是客观的)
Mr. Hansen didn't come this morning.
汉森先生今天早晨没有来。
(原因多半是主观的)