"a" before quantifiers and numbers

[miniwave]

Hi everyone!
Could anyone try to explain the existence of the article a
before quantifiers like:
a lot of
a few
before numbers like:
a million
a hundred
Tnx for answering

[Harry Smith]

Hi everyone!
Could anyone try to explain the existence of the article a
before quantifiers like:
a lot of
a few
before numbers like:
a million
a hundred
Tnx for answering

Before numbers it means "one". Before "lot" and "few" it changes their meaning and doesn't mean "one".

[Tdol]

With few/little, there is a difference of meaning:
I have few friends = I am lonely (negative meaning)
I have a few friends = not many, but no problem.

BTW, I think Harry accidentally typed 'lot' instead of 'little' in his reply, as 'lot' takes an article unless used in the plural.