he has been absent three quarters of a year in Scotland, on some business

I think I see what you're getting at. The context will make it clear where he's been absent from. You could change the sentence slightly:



He has been absent three quarters of a year, in Scotland on business.

Just an aside.....


Personally, I would never say "three quarters of a year". Nine months, every time.

"Half the year" is heard or seen occasionally and doesn't sound strange, but no other fraction is used, as far as I can remember.

If he wasn't in Scotland it would say, 'He has been absent three quarters of a year from Scotland, on some business.'

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