These words all mean to look closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable. 以上各词均含仔细检查、审查之义。

• check to look at sth closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or satisfactory 指检查、审查、核查，以确保完好、正常和安全：◆Check your work before handing it in. 交作业前先检查一遍。
• examine to look at sb/sth closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem 指仔细检查或检验人或事物，以确认有无问题或找出问题所在：◆The goods were examined for damage on arrival. 货物到达时已检查是否有破损。
• inspect to look at sb/sth closely to make sure that everything is satisfactory; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable 指检查、查看、审视，以确保一切妥当；视察（学校、工厂等）：◆Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them. 要确保在签收货物之前进行检验。◆The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year. 旅游局至少每年视察一次所有举荐的旅馆。

check, examine or inspect? 用 check、examine 还是 inspect？

All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but only check is used for mistakes. 以上各词均可用于检查可能出现的问题，但检查错误只用 check：◆Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in.Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem. 查找问题的原因只用 examine：◆The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person. * examine 较常用于专业人员所做的检查：◆The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. 房屋鉴定人检查了墙壁，看是否有水渍。 Inspect is used more often about an official. * inspect 较常用于官方检查：◆Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant. 公共卫生官员被召来视察了这家餐馆。

• go over sth to check sth carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous 指仔细检查是否有错误、损坏或危险：◆Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in. 交作业前仔细检查一下拼写错误。

Patterns

• to check/examine/inspect/go over (sth) for sth
• to check/examine/inspect/go over sth to see if/whether…
• to check/examine/inspect/go over sth carefully/thoroughly