Past tense of verb ( Be )
Am --- is ( was ) ( He --- she – it – I )
Are --- were ( They – we – you )

Sami was absent yesterday
Was Sami absent yesterday ?
Yes, he was --- No, he wasn't

2- They were in Jeddah in 2005
Yes , they were --- No , they weren't

Wh – Question with past tense of Verb ( be )
Sami was absent yesterday

Who was absent yesterday ?

( Yesterday ) = When was Sami absent ?

2- They were in Jeddah in 2005

Where were they in 2005 ?