Chance To or Chance Of?

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Chance To or Chance Of?

In this lesson, you can describe an opportunity without claiming it was used.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Describe an opportunity to join an activity.

See one possible response

I have a chance to join the course.

A fictional arts festival offers participation slots but selects only a few entries for a public display.

What you will practise
  • Describe an opportunity without claiming it was used.
  • Describe a possible outcome and identify whose outcome it is.
  • Reformulate ambiguous chance expressions without changing access into success.

Try first. For open responses, a model is one valid answer, not an exact-string key. Preserve the intended meaning and register.

A chance to act

A chance to + verb commonly means an opportunity: The open studio gives visitors a chance to paint. The chance makes an action available; it does not say everyone takes it. A person can have or get a chance to do something.

The festival gives new artists a chance to show their work.

I had a chance to speak to the illustrator, but I left early.

The two women are offered painting materials at an isolated easel with blank canvas, palette and brushes. Denis presents the available brushes as host. Their opportunity is clear, but they have not all begun painting.
Visitors have a chance to paint.The opportunity does not prove that everyone uses it.

A chance of an outcome

Chance of + noun or -ing commonly concerns possibility: There is a chance of selection. A good or slight chance adds a qualitative assessment, not a precise percentage. A chance that + clause can state the event with an explicit subject.

There’s a small chance of rain during the outdoor display.

Our group has a chance of winning a shared studio visit.

Keep the entry as the subject of selection

Active selection
the organisersselect my entry

The organisers choose the entry.

Possible outcome for the entry
my entrya chance of being selected

My entry has a chance of being selected.

Being selected keeps the entry as the participant that receives the action. It does not report that selection has happened.

Choose by the intended message

A chance to win can frame winning as an opportunity; a chance of winning assesses its possibility. Context matters, so neither form should be rejected automatically. If the distinction matters, use opportunity to for access and possibility that for uncertainty.

Every entrant has an opportunity to present, but selection is not guaranteed.

There is a possibility that our photograph will be chosen.

The same three adults consider their group’s chance of winning beside a closed competition entry folder and an unawarded trophy, showing hopeful but uncertain anticipation. No awarded prize, triumphant victory pose or numerical probability.
Our group has a chance of winning.The phrase does not give a numerical probability.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. I had a chance to ask a question, but I stayed silent. Was a question asked?

Compare a model and explanation

No, not by the speaker in this account.

The following clause explicitly says the opportunity was not used.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. There is a possibility of winning. Use chance of.

Compare a model and explanation

There is a chance of winning.

Of takes the -ing form in this pattern.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. There’s a chance that Mira will be selected. Use a passive -ing phrase about Mira.

Compare a model and explanation

Mira has a chance of being selected.

Mira is affected by the selection, not necessarily selecting others.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. We offer a chance to exhibit. State explicitly that this is an available slot.

Compare a model and explanation

We offer an opportunity to exhibit.

Opportunity highlights access, not the probability of success.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. A good chance of selection is announced. Must it mean exactly eighty per cent?

Compare a model and explanation

No.

Good is qualitative without a supplied numerical definition.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. A chance to win and a chance of winning: must one be ungrammatical?

Compare a model and explanation

No.

Both occur; they can frame the event as an opportunity or a possibility.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. A chance of to meet the artist.

Compare a model and explanation

A chance to meet the artist.

Use to meet for the intended opportunity, not of to meet.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. All entrants may present for three minutes. Only some may be chosen for display. Explain both with opportunity and possibility.

Compare a model and explanation

Every entrant has an opportunity to present. There is a possibility of being chosen for display, but selection is not guaranteed.

Access and selection are distinct stages.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Artist: Does the open session give everyone a chance to exhibit?

Organiser: It gives everyone a chance to present a sample. Only some samples will be displayed.

Artist: So there’s a chance of selection, not a guaranteed display space.

Organiser: Exactly. The presentation slot is available to everyone who enters.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. What happened?
Read the listening transcript

I had a chance to try the printing press, but I chose to watch instead.

2. What is the status?
Read the listening transcript

There is a slight chance that the final display will move indoors. No decision has been made.

3. What does each entrant receive?
Read the listening transcript

Each entrant gets a chance to present, but only three pieces are selected afterwards.

Answer key with explanations

  1. What happened?

    The speaker had an opportunity but did not use it.: The contrast explicitly states the choice to watch.

    Compare all choices
    • The speaker had an opportunity but did not use it.: The contrast explicitly states the choice to watch.
    • The speaker definitely printed something.: That contradicts the stated choice.
    • No opportunity was offered.: A chance was available.

  2. What is the status?

    A possible change, not a confirmed one.: Chance and the explicit qualification preserve uncertainty.

    Compare all choices
    • A guarantee that it will remain outdoors.: The alternative remains possible.
    • A possible change, not a confirmed one.: Chance and the explicit qualification preserve uncertainty.
    • A completed move.: No decision has been made.

  3. What does each entrant receive?

    An opportunity to present.: The opportunity applies to every entrant.

    Compare all choices
    • Guaranteed selection.: Only three pieces are selected.
    • Three display spaces each.: Three refers to total selected pieces, not spaces per person.
    • An opportunity to present.: The opportunity applies to every entrant.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Which phrase most explicitly means an available opportunity?
2. Which form follows of in the target pattern?
3. Does had a chance to speak establish a completed conversation?
4. Which keeps the event’s explicit subject?
5. Does a good chance supply an exact percentage by itself?
6. Which statement preserves both festival facts?
7. Is a chance to win always incorrect because winning is uncertain?
8. The intended meaning is an opportunity to meet. Which repair is best?
Answer key with explanations

  1. Which phrase most explicitly means an available opportunity?

    an opportunity to paint: Opportunity to clearly frames access to the action.

    Compare all choices
    • a certainty that the painting will win: This asserts a guaranteed result.
    • a slight chance of rain: This assesses a possible weather outcome.
    • an opportunity to paint: Opportunity to clearly frames access to the action.

  2. Which form follows of in the target pattern?

    a chance of being chosen: Of is followed by the -ing construction.

    Compare all choices
    • a chance of being chosen: Of is followed by the -ing construction.
    • a chance of be chosen: A bare verb does not fit this complement.
    • a chance of to be chosen: Of to be mixes two patterns.

  3. Does had a chance to speak establish a completed conversation?

    No.: The opportunity may have been unused.

    Compare all choices
    • Yes, every chance is taken.: Availability is not performance.
    • No.: The opportunity may have been unused.
    • Yes, unless speak is irregular.: Verb irregularity is irrelevant.

  4. Which keeps the event’s explicit subject?

    There’s a chance that the artist will attend.: The finite clause names the attending person.

    Compare all choices
    • There’s a chance of the artist to attend.: This is not the target finite or -ing pattern.
    • There’s a chance that will attend the artist.: The intended subject is misplaced.
    • There’s a chance that the artist will attend.: The finite clause names the attending person.

  5. Does a good chance supply an exact percentage by itself?

    No.: It is a qualitative assessment.

    Compare all choices
    • No.: It is a qualitative assessment.
    • Yes, always fifty per cent.: No fixed numerical definition is supplied.
    • Yes, always one hundred per cent.: Chance does not mean certainty here.

  6. Which statement preserves both festival facts?

    Everyone can present, but not everyone will be selected.: It separates access from outcome.

    Compare all choices
    • Nobody can present until selected.: That reverses the stated sequence.
    • Everyone can present, but not everyone will be selected.: It separates access from outcome.
    • Everyone who presents will be selected.: That adds a guarantee.

  7. Is a chance to win always incorrect because winning is uncertain?

    No.: It can frame winning as an opportunity.

    Compare all choices
    • Yes, only of can ever follow chance.: To-infinitives are also established.
    • Yes, because chance requires a past verb.: No such tense restriction exists.
    • No.: It can frame winning as an opportunity.

  8. The intended meaning is an opportunity to meet. Which repair is best?

    We had a chance to meet the designer.: The infinitive expresses the opportunity.

    Compare all choices
    • We had a chance to meet the designer.: The infinitive expresses the opportunity.
    • We had a chance that meeting designer.: A that-clause needs a finite structure.
    • We had a chance of to meet the designer.: The complement is malformed.

Use it in your own words

Opportunity not taken

Describe a useful opportunity that someone did not use. Make both facts clear.

Reveal a possible response

I had a chance to join a guided tour, but I arrived too late for the start.

  • State the opportunity
  • Explain non-use without contradiction

A fictional opportunity is acceptable.

Possible outcome

Explain a possible result using both of and that patterns. Avoid invented percentages.

Reveal a possible response

There’s a chance of our design being chosen. There’s a chance that the panel will choose it, but we have no decision yet.

  • Keep the affected participant clear
  • Retain uncertainty

Other outcomes are welcome.

Put it all together

A fictional writing event lets every participant read a paragraph; two stories will receive an extended reading. Brief a newcomer without promising selection.

Reveal a possible response

You’ll have an opportunity to read one paragraph. There’s a chance of your story being chosen for a longer reading, but only two stories get that place. The first opportunity is guaranteed; the later selection is not.

  • Separate access and outcome
  • Preserve the supplied limit
  • Clarify the complement meaning

Use your own wording without changing the stated event rules.

Take it with you

Chance to often introduces an opportunity. Chance of can introduce likelihood or a possibility of an event. Keep opportunity separate from a prediction that the event will occur.