Когда использовать chance, а когда opportunity
Chance и opportunity оба могут обозначать возможность что-то сделать. Но chance гораздо шире: оно также говорит о вероятности того, что событие произойдёт. Opportunity обычно означает благоприятную или подходящую ситуацию, которой можно воспользоваться.
Chance и opportunity: главное отличие
| Слово | Типичный смысл | Пример |
|---|---|---|
| chance | возможность или вероятность | I finally had a chance to talk to her. |
| opportunity | подходящая ситуация для действия или развития | This job is a great opportunity. |
Chance — возможность что-то сделать
- I didn't get a chance to speak to him.
- Give me a chance to explain.
- This may be our last chance.
- Don't miss your chance to visit the exhibition.
- I'd love the chance to work abroad.
В этом значении chance близко к opportunity и особенно естественно в разговорной речи.
Opportunity — возможность, которой можно воспользоваться
- This course gives you an opportunity to practise speaking.
- She was offered an excellent career opportunity.
- We see this as an opportunity for growth.
- He had the opportunity to study abroad.
- Don't miss this unique opportunity.
Opportunity часто встречается в деловом, академическом и карьерном английском и обычно звучит чуть формальнее.
Chance = вероятность события
- There's a good chance we'll be late.
- What are my chances of getting the job?
- There's little chance of rain.
- She has a 50% chance of winning.
- Is there any chance that he'll come?
There's a chance of rain означает вероятность дождя. Нельзя заменить chance на opportunity.
Chance to do и opportunity to do
Обе конструкции стандартны:
- I had a chance to speak to the manager.
- I had an opportunity to speak to the manager.
- The trip gave us a chance to practise English.
- The trip gave us an opportunity to practise English.
Chance часто звучит естественнее в повседневной речи. Opportunity может сильнее подчёркивать ценность или пользу ситуации.
Chance of doing — два возможных смысла
Вероятность
- There's a good chance of winning.
- What are the chances of finding a taxi this late?
Возможность
- I never had the chance of meeting her.
У opportunity тоже возможна конструкция opportunity of doing something, хотя opportunity to do обычно проще и естественнее для учащегося.
Работа и карьера: opportunity особенно типично
- job opportunities;
- career opportunities;
- employment opportunities;
- opportunities for promotion;
- business opportunities;
- learning opportunities.
В объявлениях о работе, бизнесе и образовании opportunity употребляется намного шире, чем chance.
Take, seize и miss an opportunity
- Take every opportunity to practise.
- She seized the opportunity to introduce herself.
- We missed an excellent opportunity.
- He took the opportunity to thank everyone.
С chance тоже естественны take a chance и miss your chance, но take a chance часто означает «рискнуть».
I decided to take a chance. — «Я решил рискнуть / попробовать, несмотря на неопределённость».
By chance — случайно
- We met by chance at the airport.
- Did you find this place by chance?
- By any chance, do you know her number?
By any chance также используется для мягкого вопроса: «случайно не...?»
Полезные сочетания
| Chance | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| a good chance of success | a great opportunity |
| give someone a chance | career opportunity |
| take a chance | business opportunity |
| by chance | seize an opportunity |
| second chance | opportunity for growth |
Частые ошибки
| Ошибка | Правильно |
|---|---|
| There's an opportunity of rain. | There's a chance of rain. |
| I didn't have possibility to talk to her. | I didn't have a chance/an opportunity to talk to her. |
| I met him by opportunity. | I met him by chance. |
| He has a big opportunity to win. | He has a good chance of winning. — если речь о вероятности |
Упражнения
Chance или opportunity?
- There's a good ___ of snow tonight.
- This internship is a great career ___.
- I didn't get a ___ to say goodbye.
- The course provides many ___ for practice.
- What are his ___ of winning?
- She seized the ___ to work abroad.
Показать ответы
1. chance
2. opportunity
3. chance
4. opportunities
5. chances
6. opportunity
Что важно запомнить
- Chance может означать и возможность, и вероятность.
- Opportunity — подходящая ситуация, которой можно воспользоваться.
- Chance to do и opportunity to do могут пересекаться.
- Chance of rain / winning — вероятность.
- Job, career и business opportunities — типичные сочетания.
- By chance — случайно; take a chance — рискнуть.