absent last week vs absent during last week

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in slightly different contexts. 'Absent last week' is more commonly used and is a concise way to indicate that someone wasn't present during the previous week. On the other hand, 'absent during last week' emphasizes the specific time frame of the previous week.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 18, 2025 • 6568 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"absent last week"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone was not present during the previous week.

Examples:

I was absent last week due to illness.
She was absent last week, so she missed an important meeting.
The teacher was absent last week, so we had a substitute.
He was absent last week, but he caught up on the work.
The employee was absent last week, but he provided a doctor's note.

Show examples from the web [+]

The notes for the three days you were absent last week.
Absent for a full day last week, Cooper.
I said: 'I also repeat: we voted it for last week again, but the alleged great crusader Mr Martin was absent for almost 20 votes.'
When I read the Dutch newspapers about the Justice Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday of last week, I get the impression that this political will is absent, because the ongoing issues in the discussion are the real deployment of people and equipment.
He robbed the Applied Science division of Queen Consolidated last week.
Grayson was... killed last week.
Melanie Peterson was arrested for underage drinking last week.
Found this on my windshield last week.
Last week he could barely keep up.
Micah Conley didn't hit that triple last week.
You came into Witney last week.
You were negative just last week.
Quinn called me last week, concerned.
Will started acting paranoid last week.
Dennis Thatcher was at ICI last week.
Dylan visited your office several times last week.
The research Agent Bennigan ordered last week.
I heard your speech last week.
The lemon meringue pie last week...
Except that last week my chauffeur crashed.

Alternatives:

I was not present last week.
I didn't attend last week.
I missed last week.
I skipped last week.
I was away last week.

This phrase is correct but less common in English.

"absent during last week"

This phrase is also used to indicate that someone was not present during the previous week, but it emphasizes the specific time frame of the previous week.

Examples:

She was absent during last week's training sessions.
He was absent during last week's exams.
The manager was absent during last week's team meeting.
The student was absent during last week's field trip.
They were absent during last week's presentations.

Show examples from the web [+]

They got killed during last week's deal.
Like I said on the phone... something weird happened during last week's bout.
Catch up on what happened during last week's plenary session in Strasbourg with our day by day account of all the debates and divisions.
During last week's debate before the vote in support, Mr Romeva referred to the "fundamental contradictions between arms dealings and the Code of Conduct".
There has already been evidence of that, during last week's hearings, when you assured us that you would be a President for all Europeans.
I got a letter here from a sister enclosing ten dollars... and two malignant tumors she coughed up during last week's prayer meeting on the air.
During last week's United Nations conference in Poznań it was clear that the world's eyes were on Europe and that our actions will have a decisive and positive influence on the international negotiations.
Here's a letter from a sister enclosing $10... ...and two tumours she coughed up during last week's broadcast.
During last week's hearings, the Commissioners-designate competed to show their zeal on the subject in order to demonstrate their Federalist ambitions to their questioners.
Mr Salafranca EU-Latin America Summit 18 May Hope that Summit leads to new trade agreements Ahead of the EU-Latin America summit in Madrid on 18 May MEPs discussed new priorities between the two regions during last week's plenary.
Mr President, you said during last week's information session that it was your view that any future EU food agency should not be located on the periphery, but you did not mention what that periphery was.
Accordingly, I have also written to the Spanish Presidency of the Council on the Committee's behalf, and have also informed the President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Rato of it during last week's meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
Mr President, during last week's meeting of the Visegrad Group in Bratislava, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, which is currently chairing the group, sent a clear message to President Lukashenko of Belarus.
Since precipitation is usually absent during the summer months, the first rains carry substantially higher amounts.
She was absent during the ambush.
Vivian, I owe you... the humblest amends for being totally absent during the formative years of your childhood.
But since I was absent during the last debate, I would like to come back to it.
The empty chair of the Luxembourg Presidency, which has chosen to be absent during this debate, is telling.
May I therefore register my excuse for being absent during the roll call voting.
I would also like to commend the German Presidency for having secured this deal, but again I note with deep regret that the Council is absent during this important debate.

Alternatives:

She was not present during last week.
He didn't attend during last week.
The manager was missing during last week's team meeting.
The student skipped last week's field trip.
They were away during last week's presentations.

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absent last week vs absent during last week

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