We usemissas a verb to mean ‘not hit or reach something’:
The car went out of control; itmisseda tree and hit a wall.
He threw the empty can towards the rubbish bin but hemissed!
We also usemissto mean ‘not be present at, or be too late for, a planned event or activity’:
I’ll have to leave early otherwise I’llmissmy train.
Not:I’ll lose my train…
Wemissedthe start of the film.
We usemisswhen we don’t understand, notice or hear something:
Sorry, Imissedwhat you just said. Could you repeat it, please?
I cleaned the window but I think Imissedsome bits!(I didn’t notice them when I was cleaning.)
We usemissto refer to feeling sad because someone or something is not with us:
Imissyou so much.
We reallymisshaving a dog in the house.
We use the-ingform aftermiss:
Imissswimming; I used to swim a lot.
Not:I miss to swim…
Shemissedworking with Lilly and Meg.
We usemissingas an adjective meaning ‘lost’:
[a public notice]
Missingperson; John Rice, Aged 45, Tall with dark hair.Missingfrom his home since 31st August …
Don’t confuse these words withmiss.
Fail
We usefail, notmiss, when someone or something doesn’t do what they should do:
The parcelfailedto arrive.
Not:The parcel missed to arrive.
She thinks she’sfailedher exam.
Not:She thinks she’s missed her exam.
Lose
We uselose, notmiss, when we no longer have something because we don’t know where it is or because it has been taken away:
She doesn’t want toloseher job.
Not:She doesn’t want to miss her job.
We usemiss, notlose, to refer to being too late for something or for not being somewhere that we need to be:
Imissedthe bus.
Not:I lost the bus.
Lack
We uselack, notmiss, when we mean we don’t have (enough of) something that we need or want:
I know youlacksome skilled people to build the boat and therefore I hope I can join your club to help you.
Not:I know you miss some skilled people…