Time

1. Introduction
2. Basic axis
         a) Past
         b) Present
         c) Future
         d) Non-manual component
3. Anaphoric axis
4. Sequential axis
5. Other

8

The past is always indicated over the shoulder of the dominant hand; if recent, on the shoulder itself - as is the case of the "recently" sign. The sign moves back away from the shoulder the longer the time that passed, and repetitions will also be more and more frequent the longer ago the action took place, such as in "a long time ago".
 
    "My sister-in-law recently had a baby."
    "Dubbed films have been shown in this cinema for quite some time."
    "A long, long time ago people lived in caves."