If you don’t work hard, you may fail. 此句中fail意为“失败;不及格,没有通过考试”。fail还有其它用法。如:
① He never fails to write to his mother every week.
(fail意为“忘记、忽视或未能做某事”。)
② She has been failing in health.
(fail in意为“(健康状况)衰退”。)
③ His friends failed him when he most needed them.
(fail意为“使失望, 辜负”。)
④ I had three passes and one fail.
(fail用作名词,意为“考试不及格”。)
⑤ I’ll be there at two o’clock without fail.
(without fail意为“肯定,一定,必定”。)