Possibility, Opportunity and Chance – What’s the Difference?

Possibility, Opportunity and Chance – What’s the Difference?

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we will discuss the difference between the words possibility, opportunity and chance.

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Possibility

If there is a possibility that something is true or may happen, then it may be true or may happen.

• There is a possibility that Brian will work abroad.
• They’ve just said that there is a strong possibility that it will rain today.
• Our party’s victory now seems to be a real possibility.
• As time was passing, he began considering the possibility that he might never see his family again.
• The police ruled out the possibility that the neighbour could be the murderer.

Possibility, Opportunity and Chance – What’s the Difference?

Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a chance to do something or an occasion when it is easy to do something.

• Everyone will have an opportunity to say what they think about the exhibition.
• Our trip to Oxford was a good opportunity for me to visit my aunt.
• The football player had a golden opportunity to score but he missed it.
• The Joneses have been waiting for a long time for an opportunity to move to Australia.
• May I take the opportunity to express my gratitude?

Possibility or Opportunity?

We use possibility to talk about something that we want to do and it usually goes with there is, while opportunity refers to a situation which may or may not happen. It often goes with have.

• There is a slight possibility that I will enrol on college in the USA.
• I have an opportunity to study in the USA. (not I had the possibility…)

Possibility, Opportunity and Chance – What’s the Difference?

Also: opportunity is usually followed by a to-infinitive or of + -ing form, whereas possibility is normally goes with of + noun phrase, of + -ing form, or by a that-clause.

• We don’t often have an opportunity to travel.
• We don’t often have an opportunity of travelling.
• It was clear that there was no possibility of escape.
• Sara was considering the possibility of moving to a bigger house.
• Is there a possibility that it might rain?

Chance

Chance is more informal than opportunity and possibility. It refers to the possibility that something will happen, especially something that you want.

• Is there a chance that we get the tickets for the match?
• Michael’s business had a good chance of success.

Chance also refers to an opportunity to do something.

• The interviewer gave Mary a chance to talk about her career goals.
• Ben enjoyed the chance to talk to his niece.

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