"Μερικοί γονείς είναι μέσα στο σπίτι."

Translation: Some parents are in the house.

[BradleyJones2]

can I not use "several" as a translation for μερικοι?

[jaye16]

"Μερικοί" is just some without indication of number whereas "several" emphasizes that there were a lot of people.

[mizinamo]

Hm, for me at least, "several" is a comparatively small number - "several parents" might be five to nine, or thereabouts, which I wouldn't call "a lot" yet.

[jaye16]

Yes, I get your point. Here I think the main idea is the existence of parents in the house and not the number. ;-}

[Dzenne1]

"Some parents are at home" isn't correct but "Some parents are in the home" is?

[jaye16]

"at home" would mean their home but here "house" could refer to any house since there is no context. "At my friend's party the children played in the garden and the parents were in the house."

[mizinamo]

That's right. The best translation for μέσα στο σπίτι is "in the house", though, rather than "in the home".

[andrikon]

"A few of the parents" is incorrect?

[D_..]

Yes, I'd say so. 'Some' is vague, e.g. 'some are, some aren't', while 'few' is a comment on how many.

[andrikon]

Ok, thank you!!!

[Le._.Doc]

How would one translate A few parents…. Would that be κάποιες γονείς…?

[troll1995]

Κάποιοι or λίγοι. Γονιός/Γονέας is masculine.

[Le._.Doc]

Thanks. I really have to brush up on the irregular declensions… :)

[Paul527042]

In the house and at home are synonymous

[jaye16]

Not really. "In the house" could be any house not necessarily where that person lives while "at home" means in "their own house".

[mizinamo]

"at home" means in "their own house".

Or "in their own flat/apartment" or other kind of housing. "home" need not refer to a house at all.

[katiem327473]

Parents are in da houuuse