had been absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been absent" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was not present at a specific time in the past, often in relation to a particular event or situation. Example: "She had been absent from the meeting last week due to a family emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bhumibol had been absent from public life for years.

The Guardian

Nolan had been absent on sick leave since Easter.

The Guardian

Hilaire had been absent, or when the attack took place.

The New York Times

Bowie had been absent from public view for a decade.

The Guardian - Music

Britain had been absent over Ukraine, he argued.

The Economist

But, with some notable exceptions, Kurds, usually Turkey's most robust anti-government protesters, had been absent.

The New Yorker

Still, the Jets seem to have confidence in a passing game that had been absent.

The New York Times - Sports

Servers fretted and hovered, as attentive during the meal as they had been absent before it.

The New York Times

That might explain why Moye had been absent from the city recently.

The New Yorker

Georgi's teachers called his family to find out why he had been absent for a week.

The New Yorker

Mr. Patinkin had been absent from the performance Mr. Gurney attended of "The Wild Party".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been absent" to clearly indicate a past state of absence, ensuring the context implies a specific duration or reason for the absence. It is best suited when emphasizing that the absence concluded at a certain point in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "had been absent" when simply stating someone is currently absent. Use "is absent" to indicate a present state of absence rather than a past completed one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been absent" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of absence that existed in the past before another event or time, often describing a completed period of non-presence. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been absent" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a past state of non-presence, suitable for various contexts ranging from news reports to academic writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used. When writing, it's essential to ensure correct tense usage, differentiating it from present perfect constructions and choosing "from" as the appropriate preposition. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively convey past absences and their implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been missing

Emphasizes a lack of presence or availability, suggesting something or someone was not where expected.

had been away

Indicates a temporary departure or absence from a place or situation.

had been unavailable

Focuses on the lack of accessibility or readiness for use or contact.

had not been present

A more formal way to state the absence of someone or something.

had been lacking

Highlights the deficiency or absence of a required quality or element.

had been omitted

Suggests that something was intentionally left out or excluded.

had been excluded

Indicates that someone or something was deliberately prevented from participating or being included.

had been deficient

Highlights a significant lack or shortcoming, emphasizing inadequacy.

had been inexistent

Emphasizes the complete lack of existence or presence.

had not existed

Directly states that something did not exist or occur in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "had been absent" in a sentence?

Use "had been absent" to describe someone or something that was not present for a period of time in the past. For example, "She "had been absent" from the meeting last week due to illness".

What's the difference between "had been absent" and "was absent"?

"Had been absent" indicates an absence that occurred and concluded before a specific point in the past. "Was absent" simply states that someone was not present at a particular time. The former emphasizes the completed nature of the absence.

What can I say instead of "had been absent"?

You can use alternatives like "had been missing", "had been away", or "had not been present" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been absent from" or "had been absent of"?

The correct preposition to use with "had been absent" is "from". Therefore, "had been absent from" is the correct usage. For example, "He "had been absent from" school for a week".