This is a good question raised by someone who's taken his chances with both words. He said: "I have seen both phrases - 'take the chance to do something' and 'take the opportunity to do something' - but whenever I write, I still wonder which word to use. Are they interchangeable?"
In situations where one wants to do something, the two words are often interchangeable. But we should always remember: Chance is a sometimes thing.
Or look at it this way: an opportunity is often a good chance, but not all chances are good opportunities. Not at all.
Chance, you see, involves risk. When we take a chance to do something, risk is often implied. It means we are not so sure, we are trusting luck, we are not fully confident with the opportunity presented.
To answer whether "chance" and "opportunity" are interchangeable, I think I perhaps could do better by pointing to a few situations where the two words are NOT interchangeable. Examples:
1. Take a chance with me.
That is the title of a song from Roxy Music, a British rock group.
2. Chance would be a fine thing.
That is a colloquial expression meaning: Not a chance!
3. Fat chance!
Another expression meaning: No chance.
4. Equal opportunity.
Meaning? The same chances for everybody, regardless of race, sex, age, hair color, etc.
With opportunities, in sum, one is positive. With chances, well, better be careful.
职称英语考试的高频词汇(3)
职称英语考试高频词汇(12)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(17)
职称英语理工类考试考前每日一练(26)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(24)
职称英语理工类考试考前每日一练(27)
职称英语考试阅读中85个重点句型精选(三)
职称英语综合类考试考前每日一练(27)
职称英语综合类考试考前每日一练(18)
职称英语考试的高频词汇(5)
职称英语考试常见100个短语(1)
职称英语理工类考试考前每日一练(18)
职称英语考试必备词汇容易写错的英文单词(1)
职称英语考试突击三类小题型解题的技巧小结
职称英语考试必备词汇容易写错的英文单词(2)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(19)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(26)
职称英语通关秘诀四步答题法
职称英语备考高频词汇700个(1)
职称英语考试必考的高频词汇(12)
名师指导职称英语考场查词攻略
职称英语考试阅读中85个重点句型精选(五)
职称英语综合类考试考前每日一练(23)
职称英语考试高频词汇(8)
职称英语考试750个常考的高频词汇(6)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(18)
职称英语卫生类考试考前每日一练(25)
职称英语考试技巧考前突击三类小题型
职称英语考试高频词汇(11)
职称英语理工类考试考前每日一练(19)
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |