was opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was opportunity" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be used in a context where "opportunity" is being described in the past tense, but it typically requires additional context or structure to be meaningful. Example: "The moment he realized it was opportunity knocking, he seized it without hesitation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

In this disillusionment, there was opportunity.

The Guardian

In typical stadium fashion, there was opportunity to spend money even after the event.

The New Yorker

Chance was opportunity in the ghetto, and you had to be prepared for anything.

The New Yorker

"The [Balkan] conflict was one part of the decision to move – another was opportunity.

The Guardian - Sport

He had begun to think the best solution would be to move people to towns where there was opportunity.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think the offer he was thinking about was Opportunity Knocks, it wasn't one of my shows.

The Guardian

She applauded Davis for highlighting how it was opportunity, not talent, that was the fundamental obstacle to diversity on screen.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He's a complete striker – in fact, the only thing that was ever missing from Paolo Guerrero's career was opportunity.

The Guardian - Sport

There was opportunity to do things I'd never had time for before as long as they didn't cost too much.

The Guardian

This time, Robinson read the play and knew there was opportunity for an old man to feel young.

The New York Times - Sports

More than anything he wanted Queensland to become a vibrant, modern multicultural state where there was opportunity for everyone.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a past opportunity, use grammatically correct phrases such as "there was an opportunity", or "an opportunity arose" for clarity.

Common error

Do not use the phrase "was opportunity" directly. Ensure a subject is present such as "there" or "it" to form a complete and grammatically correct sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was opportunity" functions as an incomplete predicate, typically requiring a subject to form a complete clause. Although Ludwig lists many examples, it's important to note it is not grammatically sound on its own.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "was opportunity" appears frequently across various sources on Ludwig, it is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI underscores this point.

Better alternatives include using complete sentences like "there was an opportunity" or rephrasing to "an opportunity arose". These alternatives provide grammatical accuracy and clarity, while still conveying the intended meaning. Remember to choose alternatives that reflect the appropriate register for your writing context, ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there was a chance

Replaces "opportunity" with "chance" and uses the grammatically correct "there was".

there existed an opportunity

Uses the verb "existed" to provide a more formal and grammatically structured version.

an opportunity arose

Emphasizes the emergence of an opportunity in the past.

a favorable circumstance occurred

Replaces "opportunity" with a more descriptive phrase indicating a positive situation.

the potential was present

Focuses on the presence of potential rather than a realized opportunity.

it presented a possibility

Highlights the aspect of something offering a chance or possibility.

a door opened

Metaphorically represents an opportunity becoming available.

circumstances allowed for

Focuses on how external conditions created an opening or a possibility.

the time was right

Indicates that the conditions were suitable for taking action.

a window of opportunity appeared

Suggests a limited timeframe in which the opportunity was available.

FAQs

How to use "was opportunity" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "was opportunity" is grammatically incorrect. Use "there was an opportunity" or "it was an opportunity" instead.

What can I say instead of "was opportunity"?

You can use alternatives like "there was a chance", "an opportunity arose", or "there existed an opportunity".

Which is correct, "was opportunity" or "there was opportunity"?

"There was opportunity" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. The phrase "was opportunity" lacks a subject and is therefore incorrect.

What's the difference between "was opportunity" and "there was an opportunity"?

"Was opportunity" is an incomplete phrase. "There was an opportunity" is a complete sentence expressing that an opportunity existed at some point in the past.