Ⅰ.四者都有“访问”的意思,但是vist较为正式,可用于访问人,也可用于访问地方。如:
I visited my aunt in Bejing in the summer holidays. 暑假我探望了在北京的姨妈。
Ⅱ.call on有时可代替visit,但只限于人。访问某地方则用call at。如:
We called on Prefessor Liu a few days ago. 前几天我们拜访了刘教授。
Ⅲ.go to see为普通用语,一般用于人。如:
Tom is ill. Let’s go to see him after school.汤姆病了,我们放学后去看他吧。
Ⅳ.drop in特指顺路探访,多用于口语。如:
Would you like to drop in and have a cup of tea? 你顺便来喝杯茶,好吗?