COLLOCATION SERIES:
These collocations are often confused. The expression “having a chance” means having time to do something. For example, if my sister is busy, I might ask her to call me back when she’s free. Another example is as follows: “I’ll call you back when I have a chance“, which means the person will return the call when they have some free time.
However, “taking a chance” means trying something risky or uncertain. For instance, deciding to invest in a new business venture involves risk because it might not succeed.
Here are some examples:
Examples of “take a chance”:
- Sarah decided to take a chance and apply for the job, even though she didn’t meet all the qualifications.
- Jack took a chance by investing his savings in the stock market, hoping for a good return.
- We should take a chance and try that new restaurant downtown; it might turn out to be really good.
- In a game of Scrabble, taking a chance might involve playing a high-scoring word on a triple word score tile, even if it means opening up a triple letter score tile for your opponent. You’re risking giving them an advantage in exchange for potentially scoring big points yourself.
Examples of “have a chance”:
- Do you have a chance to meet up for coffee later this week?
- I’ll give you a call when I have a chance to go over the project with you.
- If you have a chance, could you pick up some groceries on your way home?
by TheTutor @thetutor