Use Of "Failure"

Question

Many people criticized the government for its failure to contain the spread of the virus in the early stage.I'm not sure of if the sentence above is grammatical. If so, could the following sentences be also grammatical?Many people criticized the government for its failure of containing the spread of the virus in the early stage.Many people criticized the government for its failure in containing the spread of the virus in the early stage.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymousMany people criticized the government for its failure to contain the spread of the virus in the early stage.

"To" is right, but "early stage" is a bit off. One expects "in the early stages" or "at its onset" or something. "Early stage" implies perhaps a middle stage and a later stage, but they are not in evidence, nor should you expect the reader to imagine them.

anonymousMany people criticized the government for its failure of containing the spread of the virus in the early stage.

"Of" is a real clinker there. It makes the sentence have no meaning.

anonymousMany people criticized the government for its failure in containing the spread of the virus in the early stage.

This is grammatical, but the meaning is the opposite of what you want. It says that the government did contain it, and that was its failure.

Clive · Answer

Many people criticized the government for its failure to contain the spread of the virus in the early stage. correct

I'm not sure of if the sentence above is grammatical. If so, could the following sentences be also grammatical?

Many people criticized the government for its failure of containing the spread of the virus in the early stage. not correct

Many people criticized the government for its failure in containing the spread of the virus in the early stage. correct

Use Of "Failure"

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