Opportunity is a good moment or situation to do something; in conversation chance means the same, but it also means probability: a chance of rain, a 50% chance. Opportunity is never used for probability.
chance or opportunity — can you pick the right one?
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a chance/an opportunity to + verb; a chance of + noun/-ing (probability); there's a good chance (that)…; get a chance to + verb (find time to); a job/career opportunity
- The internship gave me an opportunity to work with a real design team.
- There's a good chance our flight will be delayed because of the storm.
- Did you get a chance to read the report I sent yesterday?
What changed
First versionThere's a good opportunity that it will rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella.
RevisionThere's a good chance that it will rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella.
Opportunity is a good moment to do something; it isn't used for how likely an event is. When you mean how likely it is to rain, you need chance: there's a good chance that…
Did you get a chance to read my email? means Have you had time to read my email? In conversation, get a chance to do something means to find time, with no luck involved. And by chance means accidentally: We met by chance at the airport.
Your turn
The forecast says there's a 70% ___ of snow tonight.
Show the answer
chance — A 70% chance of snow is a probability from a forecast, and only chance expresses probability. Opportunity of snow sounds as if snow were a lucky opening you should make the most of.
Describe an opportunity you had at work or in your studies. Use opportunity and say what exactly you were able to do.
Last year my company gave me the opportunity to attend a conference in Berlin, where I presented our new app.
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