Learn Hardcore Russian: В отсутствие геодезического прибора погрешность измерения не проверили. - In the absence of a surveying instrument, the measurement error was not checked.

Word

В отсутствие геодезического прибора погрешность измерения не проверили.

Meaning

In the absence of a surveying instrument, the measurement error was not checked.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Lesson

Breakdown of В отсутствие геодезического прибора погрешность измерения не проверили.

What does в отсутствие mean here?

В отсутствие is a set expression meaning in the absence of or when there is no ... available.

So:

в отсутствие геодезического прибора = in the absence of a geodetic/surveying instrument

This is a fairly formal, written style expression. You will often see it in technical, academic, or official language.

A simpler everyday equivalent is often без + Genitive:

But в отсутствие sounds more formal and abstract than без.

Why is it геодезического прибора and not геодезический прибор?

Because в отсутствие requires the genitive case.

The base form is:

In the genitive singular, it becomes:

Both words change because the adjective must agree with the noun in case, number, and gender:

So the whole phrase is in the genitive because it depends on в отсутствие.

Is в отсутствие always followed by the genitive case?