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 an opportunity to 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 …