Vocabulary · Free lesson
Opportunity or possibility? A chance to act or something that may happen
A free afternoon may give you an opportunity to practice. Rain tomorrow is a possibility. One opens a chance for action; the other describes uncertainty.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
An opportunity is a chance to do something useful or wanted: “an opportunity to practice.” A possibility is something that may happen or be true: “the possibility that it will rain.”
Opportunity to do something. Possibility that something may happen.
Use an opportunity to + verb for a useful chance: an opportunity to meet the team. Use a possibility that + a complete clause, or a possibility of + a noun or -ing form: a possibility of rain. Possibility does not say the event is certain, and it can describe good or bad outcomes.
Compare the examples
The club gives me an opportunity to practice English.
There is a possibility that the event will be canceled.
There is a possibility of rain.
For the pattern taught here, say an opportunity to practice or a possibility of practicing. “A possibility to practice” is not the standard learner pattern for these meanings.
Build the meaning step by step
Choose the idea
a useful chance
Choose the pattern
an opportunity to
Add the action
an opportunity to meet the team
Try it now
Match the pattern to the idea
Read all answers and explanations
The club gives you a useful chance to practice. Complete: an ___ to practice.
opportunityAn opportunity to practice expresses a chance you can use. Possible is an adjective; possibility takes a different pattern here.
Rain may happen. Complete: There is a possibility ___ rain.
ofOf connects possibility to the noun rain. That would need a complete clause, such as it will rain.
Which sentence says cancellation is possible, not confirmed?
There is a possibility that the event will be canceled.A possibility leaves the outcome uncertain. Definitely and cannot make stronger, different claims.
Build it yourself
Build a statement of possibility
Say that rain tomorrow is possible.
Use all the pieces. Select a piece again to move it back.
Your sentence
0 of 3 piecesYour chosen pieces will appear here.
See a model answer
There is a possibility that it will rain tomorrow.
Possibility that + a clause describes an uncertain event; it does not guarantee rain.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is possibility only for bad things?
No. It can describe any possible outcome, including a welcome one. The key is uncertainty, not whether you like the result.
There is a possibility that we will finish early.
Can opportunity be followed by of?
Yes. Opportunity of + -ing can work too. Learn a complete combination instead of treating to as the only possible word.
I had the opportunity of meeting the team.
Take it into your day
Match the meaning first, then choose to, of or that to complete the pattern.
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