Opportunity or possibility?
We use opportunity to talk about a situation in which we can do something that we want to do. Opportunity is most commonly followed by a verb in the to-infinitive form, or of + -ing form: I had the opportunity to go to university when I was younger but I didn’t. Now I wish I had gone.
Not: I had the possibility …
A:
I’ve been waiting for anopportunityto talk to you privately. Are you free now?
B:
Yes. What is it about?
Not: … waiting for a possibility to …
This walk provides the opportunity of seeing some beautiful countryside.
We use possibility to talk about something that may happen or be true. Possibility is normally followed by of + noun phrase or of + -ing form, or by a that-clause: I had never even thought of the possibility of working in the USA until I was offered a job there in 1998.
Not: … the possibility to work in the USA …
The possibility that there is life on other planets in the universe has always inspired scientists.
Warning:
We don’t say ‘have the possibility’: I would love to have an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.
Not: I would love to have the possibility to meet…
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