chances

chance, occasion, opportunity

这组词都有“机会”“机遇”“运气”的意思。它们的区别在于:
1.chance常与opportunity互换使用,但occasion常指一般性的机会,而opportunity则多指特殊的机会。
2.chance含有侥幸的意味,而opportunity则含有期待的意味。chance常表示可能性,而opportunity则无此义。例如:
I had no chance〔opportunity〕 to see him.我没有机会见到他。
They had no chance〔opportunity〕 to escape.他们没有逃跑的机会。
He has few occasions to speak English.他很少有机会讲英语。
I never miss a chance〔an opportunity〕 of playing football.我从不放弃踢足球的机会。
Chance plays an important part in many card games.在很多纸牌游戏中,运气起着重要的作用。
The chances are ten to one that we will win.我们获胜的可能性是10比1。

chance, fortune, luck

这三个词共同的意思是“运气”。它们的区别是：
luck是口语用词,可指好的或坏的运气,没有修饰语时,多指好运,往往含有成功或愉快之义;chance侧重偶然的、无法推测的因素;fortune指决定或影响未来的机遇,常含有变幻无常和人力无法改变的意味。例如:
We had the luck to get the best seats.我们真幸运,得到了最好的座位。
Chance plays an important part in many card games.在许多纸牌游戏中运气起很大作用。
What wonderful fortune she was enjoying!她多走运啊!

chance, come off, take place

这组词(组)共同的意思是“发生”。它们的区别在于:
1.chance含有“偶然”发生的意味; take place和come off常指按计划“发生”。例如:
On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting antique store.我们度假时无意中发现一家有趣的古玩店。
The sports meet came off in spite of the rain.尽管下雨运动会仍如期举行了。
The talk is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning at eight o'clock.预定明早8时举行会谈。
2.take place的主语只能是事物; come off强调出现的结果。例如:
What may take place with telephones in the future?将来电话会发生什么变化呢?
The wedding came off in spite of Jim and Mary's last minute quarrel.尽管吉姆和玛丽结婚前最后一刻还在争吵,婚礼还是正常举行了。
3.chance是一个较庄重并带有几分古风的用语。例如:
It chanced that the winter of that year was a severe one.碰巧,那年冬天特别寒冷。