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To miss, to lack, or .... - English lesson
Many expressions tend to express an idea of 'lack', or insufficiency ...
1) Not to have => to lack …
ex : Sorry, we haven’t got any toffees here. Do you fancy some chocolate sweets?
2) To be short of …( to a an insufficient quantity ) ; not to have enough ; not to have any left ( the supply is finished ).
ex : In most districts of our country, we’re short of doctors …We'd need more !
ex : I didn’ have enough time to finish my test …I'm afraid I going to miss my exam because of this !
ex : Sorry, we have no milk left ... If you need some, I'll go and buy some for you ...
3) To lack : ( formal style ) = to be short of ...; Not to have enough ...
ex : Most of the time, he lacks confidence in himself … it’s a pity !
‘To lack’ is quite formal whereas the noun is quite commonly used. … 'a lack of’ = a lack of money ; a lack of love ; a lack of time ...
ex : A constant lack of sleep has made him irritable.
ex : There has been a dramatic lack of volunteers lately …
4) TO MISS = to want, to lack, is very commonly used and has several different nuances. Alas, it is very often badly used by learners.
** to arrive too late = not to be fast enough ... to miss a train; to miss a plane; to miss an appointment...
ex : I didn’t run fast enough and missed my train ! What a bore !
** not to see = not to notice and pass by ...
ex : Go straight ahead and you’ll see the Sears Tower! You can’t miss it!
** not to understand = to miss the most important elements ...
ex : Think a little … In my opinion, you’ve missed the point of this explanation ...
*** The most frequent use and meaning of ‘ to miss somebody or something ’ = to feel sad about somebody's departure, to regret it, to be unhappy about it ...
ex : Since you've left, I’ve missed you so much !
ex : The little boy can’t concentrate ! He misses his family too much !
( It is often said that the 'subjects are reversed ’ between French (and other Latin languages) and English … 
In fact it is because you insist on translating your own language into English, which shouldn't be done ! 
)
ex : He misses her so much that he’ll take a plane to meet her in Washington !
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