ask、inquire、question都含有问; 询问的意思。

ask

三者同样表示很多。

many、much可作代词或限定词使用。

many作代词时指代可数名词复数，作限定词时修饰可数名词复数。

much作代词时指代不可数名词，作限定词时修饰不可数名词。

a lot of既可与可数名词连用，也可与不可数名词连用。

它们在句中可作主语、宾语和定语等:

• I don't have many friends here. 在这里我没有很多的朋友。
• Many died in the bus accident. 许多人在公交车祸中丧失。
• There was a lot of mud on the ground. 地上有许多泥。

many 和 much 的区别

后接名词通常须搭配特定修饰语

many of, much of后接名词时，该名词通常需要特指修饰词修饰，比如: the、these、those、my 、our、Tom's。

• Many of the farmers grow rice. 很多农民种稻子。
• Many of his ideas were amusing to her. 他的许多想法使她感到有趣。
• He spends much of his time outdoors. 他很多时间都在户外度过。

• Not much of Denmark is hilly. 丹麦山地不多。
• I've seen too much of Howard recently. 最近我见霍华德见得太多了。

much of可用于被不定冠词修饰的名词前。

• You can't see much of a country in a week. 一周之内看一个国家看不了多少地方。
• How much of a job would it be to rebuild the garage? 重建这个车库工作量会是多少?

not much of a用于名词前时表示对某物或某人评价不高。

• Then he's not much of a partner. 那时他不是什么了不起的合伙人。
• That might not seem like much of an accomplishment. 那似乎算不上什么成就。

带 of 或不带 of

如果名词前没有表特指的限定词，通常就不用of

她没有吃多少早餐。
误: She didn't eat much of breakfast. 
正: She didn't eat much breakfast. 

大玻璃杯剩下的不多了。
误: There aren't many of large glasses left. 
正: There aren't many large glasses left.  

在人称代词前总是用many of或much of

其中的of不能省略。

• I didn't eat much of it. 这个我没吃多少。
• Many of us were too tired to go further. 我们很多人都累得不能再往前走了。

different、distinct、divergent、diverse、various意思都含不同的。

different

作情态动词

通常用在疑问句、否定句中，或与条件句、whether、hardly、nobody等连用:

• Need he go so soon? 他这么快就要走吗?
• He needn't go. 他不必走。
• If she wants anything, she need only ask. 她想要什麽, 只需说一声就行。

Need I stay here any longer? 我需要在这呆下去吗？

No, you needn't. 不需要。

Yes, you must. 是的，需要呆下去。

need have done的否定式或疑问式，表示本来不必做某事，但事实上却做了:

• She needn't have come in person a call would have been enough. 她本不必亲自来——打个电话来就足可以了。
• Need you have paid so much? 你当时真须要付那麽多钱吗?

comprehend、know、understand都含知道; 明白; 理解的意思。

understand