23. Ask and answer the questions. Use the words in brackets.
1. Which of them (not to be) at work last week? (Fred and
Jake)
2. Where they (to be) two days ago? (in Paris)
3. What trees (to be) in the garden several years ago? (apple
trees)
4. Who (not to be) at school yesterday morning? (Don and
Alf)
5. What fruit (to be) on the plate an hour ago? (pears and
apples)
6. How old he (to be) two years ago? (twenty-one)
7. With whom the children (to be) in the yard half an hour
ago? (with Granny)
8. When we (to be) last in London? (in June)
9. Who (to be) in the garden twenty minutes ago? (the boys)

1. Who was not at work last week? (Fred and Jake)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person plural (they). In the negative form, we add "not" after the verb. So the answer is "Fred and Jake were not at work last week."

2. Where were they two days ago? (in Paris)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person plural (they) and mention the location. So the answer is "They were in Paris two days ago."

3. What trees were in the garden several years ago? (apple trees)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person plural (trees). In this case, we need to mention the type of trees in the garden. So the answer is "Apple trees were in the garden several years ago."

4. Who was not at school yesterday morning? (Don and Alf)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person singular and plural (he and they). In the negative form, we add "not" after the verb. So the answer is "Don and Alf were not at school yesterday morning."

5. What fruit was on the plate an hour ago? (pears and apples)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person singular (fruit). In this case, we need to mention the types of fruit on the plate. So the answer is "Pears and apples were on the plate an hour ago."

6. How old was he two years ago? (twenty-one)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person singular (he) and mention his age. So the answer is "He was twenty-one two years ago."

7. With whom were the children in the yard half an hour ago? (with Granny)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person plural (children) and mention the person they were with. So the answer is "The children were with Granny in the yard half an hour ago."

8. When were we last in London? (in June)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the first person plural (we) and mention the time period. So the answer is "We were in London in June."

9. Who was in the garden twenty minutes ago? (the boys)
To answer this question, we need to use the past simple form of the verb "to be" for the third person singular (boys). So the answer is "The boys were in the garden twenty minutes ago."