any difference?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Is there any difference in meaning?

[1]
1-1. I was out of town the last week
1-2. I was out of town for the last week
1-3. I've been out of town the last week
1-4. I've been out of town for the last week

[2]
2-1. He was out of town the last week
2-2. He was out of town for the last week
2-3. He's been out of town the last week
2-4. He's been out of town for the last week

Thanks in advance.

[Rusty]

Is there any difference in meaning?

[1]
1-1. I was out of town the last week
1-2. I was out of town for the last week.
(1-1 and 1-2 mean the same).
1-3. I've been out of town the last week
1-4. I've been out of town for the last week
(1-3 and 1-4 mean the same, but different from 1-1 and 1-2.
The simple past (was) can be any time in the past.
The present perfect (have been) means it happened recently.
Other things to note: In 1-1 and 1-2 the last week does not mean the week before the present, it means the last week of some stated or understood time period. Example: I was out of town for the last week of the convention. In 1-3 and 1-4, because you used the present perfect tense, the last week means the most recent week, but this sounds uncommon. It is more usual to say "(for) the past week").

[2]
2-1. He was out of town the last week
2-2. He was out of town for the last week
2-3. He's been out of town the last week
2-4. He's been out of town for the last week Same comments as above).