Question

So many directors （being absent）, the board meeting had to be put off.

为什么不是been absent？ 后面不是有had么？过去式，怎么能用动名词形式表示呢？

Answer 1

这是表主动的， 相当于As so many directors were absent.....
所以用现在分词

如不明白请追问，如果满意请【采纳】

祝学习进步