How do we use many a?

Answer 1

The term 'many a', followed by a singular noun or noun phrase, is a rather literary alternative to 'many' followed by a plural noun or noun phrase. For example:

'I saw many an unfortunate family during my travels in Outerstan.'

In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare wrote 'Many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me ...'

There is a saying 'Many a mickle makes a muckle', which is supposed to mean 'Many small things added together make a large thing.' (In fact it doesn't mean that, since the words 'mickle' and 'muckle' both mean 'a large thing'. It should be 'Many a pickle [or puckle] makes a mickle [or muckle]'.)