failure的用法与搭配
1. 泛指一般意义的“失败”，是不可数名词。如：
Failure is the mother of success. 失败是成功之母。
若指具体的失败的人或事等，则为可数名词。如：
The performance was rather a failure. 表演颇不成功。
He was a failure as a teacher. 他当过教师，却不称职。
另外，若指一次失败，也是可数名词。如：
Success came after many failures. 多次失败之后，终于获得了成功。
2. 表示未能做某事，通常用 one’s failure to do sth。如：
His failure to help us was disappointing. 他未能帮助我们真是令人失望。
I am puzzled by his failure to reply to my letter. 他不给我回信使我百思不解。
His failure to pass the examination surprised US. 他的落榜是使我们吃惊的。
表示在某一方面的失败或考试不及格等，可用介词 in。如：
Failure in one examination should not stop you trying again. 一次考试不及格不应妨碍你再试一次。