She guessed the answer on her first try.

[jutfrank]

In the following dialogue, would you assume she got them right?

No, I'd assume she just made guesses and may or may not know whether she was right.

 

[SoothingDave]

In the following dialogue, would you assume she got them right?

Helen: How did you do on the test?
Jane: Well, I guessed all the answers.

I think I would. "Guessed at" would imply they were not a correct.

 

[jutfrank]

I think I would. "Guessed at" would imply they were not a correct.

Good point. I agree that guessed at would be a good way to make that clear.

I'm going back and forth on this one, which I think shows it's a good example of an ambiguous case. Of course, in speech, the meaning would be far more obvious.

 

[Amigos4]

Respectfully, I don't understand why '... gave the correct answer second time' is OK in informal English. Why doesn't 'second time' need to have an article before it?

Before this thread is closed, I would appreciate an answer to my question. "Gave the correct answer second time" just does not sound OK to me.

 

[emsr2d2]

Before this thread is closed, I would appreciate an answer to my question. "Gave the correct answer second time" just does not sound OK to me.

It's fine without the article.

I did it right first time. He did it right second time. I win!

 

[GoesStation]

It's fine without the article.

I did it right first time. He did it right second time. I win!

The article is required in American English.

 

[Amigos4]

Looks OK to me in informal English.

It's fine without the article.

I did it right first time. He did it right second time. I win!

The article is required in American English.

Game! Set! Match! I win! The AmE Trophy remains in the US! :-D;-)