"I stopped by, but I missed you." "I stopped by, but you were out."

First corrections in the question :) * I'm trying to tell a person that he was away when I had COME in. (better still, when I had visited him) * Is THIS a right expression: * Is "get on to" the correct verb to use in this situation? Now to answer your question : You can use the sentences fdmaxey has said Or you can be more vocal and say: "I had visited you, but you were out" "I had visited you, but you were not at home" :)

I am little confused about what you are trying to say. Do you want to say "XX, I did not come in when you were away..."