01
die Gelegenheit
opportunity
A favorable time or suitable situation to do something specific; a chance.
example
Nutze die Gelegenheit, um Fragen zu stellen.
Use the opportunity to ask questions.
die Gelegenheit
opportunity
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Gelegenheit' is related to the adjective 'gelegen', which means 'suitable' or 'convenient'. So a 'Gelegenheit' (opportunity) is a situation that 'gelegen kommt' (comes at a convenient time), meaning it fits well right now.
EXAMPLE
Dein Anruf kommt mir gerade sehr gelegen.
Your call is very convenient for me right now.
Typical collocations
'Gelegenheit' is often combined with certain verbs that express how someone deals with a chance. Common collocations are 'die Gelegenheit nutzen' (to use the opportunity), 'die Gelegenheit ergreifen' (to seize the opportunity), or 'eine Gelegenheit verpassen' (to miss an opportunity).
EXAMPLE
Er hat die Gelegenheit ergriffen und sich auf die Stelle beworben.
He seized the opportunity and applied for the position.
Sentence structure with 'zu'
'Gelegenheit' is very often used with an infinitive construction to describe what the opportunity is for. The pattern is: 'die Gelegenheit haben/bieten/geben, etwas zu tun' (to have/offer/give the opportunity to do something).
EXAMPLE
Auf der Konferenz hatte ich die Gelegenheit, mit vielen Experten zu sprechen.
At the conference, I had the opportunity to speak with many experts.
Fixed expression
The expression 'bei Gelegenheit' is used to postpone a meeting or action indefinitely into the future. It signals that there is no concrete plan.
EXAMPLE
Ich rufe dich bei Gelegenheit mal an.
I'll give you a call sometime when I get the chance.
Compare with
Gelegenheit vs Mal
time / mark
'das Mal' and 'die Gelegenheit' can both have to do with a suitable moment. 'das Mal' counts or refers to a single event in a series: 'dieses Mal' (this time), 'nächstes Mal' (next time), 'jedes Mal' (every time). 'die Gelegenheit' means a chance or suitable situation in which you can do something. It does not necessarily say that something has happened several times before. Learners may confuse the words because 'nächstes Mal' and 'bei nächster Gelegenheit' sound similar. 'Nächstes Mal' fits with a repetition, while 'bei Gelegenheit' means more like: when the chance comes up.
Gelegenheit
Bei Gelegenheit möchte er seinen Freunden die neue Wohnung zeigen.
When he gets the chance, he would like to show his friends the new apartment.
Mal
Ich frage meine Tante das nächste Mal nach dem alten Foto.
Next time, I will ask my aunt about the old photo.
In real life
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