部(へ)屋(や) heyaには niha子(こ)供(ども)た()ち() kodomotachiは waほとんど hotondoいなかった inakatta。 There were hardly any children in the room. Literal Room [in-には] children [contrast-は] hardly existed-not. ほとんど~ない means 'hardly any.' The は on 子供たち adds contrast — 'as for children (unlike others), there were almost none.' homechildrencontrastive はあまり~ない (not very)
部(へ)屋(や) heyaには niha子(こ)供(ども)た()ち() kodomotachiは waほとんど hotondoいなかった inakatta。 There were hardly any children in the room. Literal Room [in-には] children [contrast-は] hardly existed-not. ほとんど~ない means 'hardly any.' The は on 子供たち adds contrast — 'as for children (unlike others), there were almost none.' homechildrencontrastive はあまり~ない (not very)