Opportunity: a chance to do something
Use opportunity with to, of and for, talk about chances you take or miss, and distinguish opportunity from possibility.
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Learn
Read the examples, then check each idea as you go.
An opportunity is a situation that allows you to do something you want or need to do. Name the action after the word so the listener knows what the chance is.
A situation that allows an action
A free place on a course can be an opportunity to learn a skill. The word focuses on what the situation lets you do. It does not mean you have already done it or that success is certain.
The workshop gave me an opportunity to try pottery.
I had an opportunity to ask a question, but I stayed quiet.
One chance or several
Use an opportunity for one particular chance. The plural is opportunities: change the final y to ies. In broader expressions, opportunity can be uncountable, as in little opportunity for discussion.
There are several opportunities to volunteer.
We had little opportunity for discussion.
Name the action with to
A direct way to explain the chance is opportunity + to + verb. Use the basic verb after to. You can add the person before the infinitive when necessary: an opportunity for someone to do something.
I need an opportunity to explain the problem.
This is an opportunity for students to ask questions.
Other useful patterns
Opportunity of + an -ing form can also describe the action. Opportunity for + a noun describes what the situation allows. Learn each full pattern rather than treating every preposition as interchangeable.
She had the opportunity of working with a small team.
The course provides opportunities for discussion.
Get, give and create opportunities
Have and get describe a chance available to someone. Give, offer and provide describe making a chance available to another person. Create describes making new chances possible.
The course offers an opportunity to meet other learners.
I got an opportunity to help with the exhibition.
Take or miss the chance
Take an opportunity means use the chance. Miss an opportunity means fail to use it or be unable to use it. The reason may be a decision, a delay or something outside the person's control.
I took the opportunity to ask for feedback.
She missed the opportunity to apply because the deadline passed.
Opportunity or possibility?
Use possibility for something that may happen or be true. Use opportunity for a situation that lets someone act. A possibility that the train will be late is a possible event, not a useful chance you choose to take.
There is a possibility that the class will move online.
An online class gives me an opportunity to study at home.
Use formal phrases with a purpose
Take this opportunity to is useful when an occasion allows you to say or do something, such as thanking a group. At the earliest opportunity means as soon as possible and sounds formal. In a routine message, a direct time request may be clearer.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers.
Please reply at the earliest opportunity.
Practice
Try the questions in order. Use a hint when you need one, then read the explanation after checking.
Use it in your own words
Describe an opportunity you took or missed. Explain what you could do, what you decided, and what happened next. Use opportunity to at least once.
Write in English, then compare your writing with the checklist. This activity uses self-review, so it does not give a score.
Check your writing
Read an example response
Last month, I had an opportunity to help at a local exhibition. I took the opportunity because I wanted experience speaking to visitors. I worked there on Saturday and learned how to explain the displays.
Test
Answer without hints. Your result shows which questions to review; you can change your answers and try again.
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