Were present?
I believe the answer is:
are
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">were present?</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for are that I've seen before include "Unit of land measure equal to 100 square metres" , "Is, in the plural" , "Era (anag.)" , "(They/you/we) exist" , "Exist; square measure" .)