recently - simple past or present perfect?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
I’d like to know when the adverb “recently” is used with the simple past and when it combines with the present perfect. I find this very confusing because for me “recently” is an indefinite time phrase and most often I’d use it in the present perfect form.

Here are a few example sentences:
I have already had three promotions, and recently I moved into an apartment in the centre of Moscow.
I have travelled widely throughout Europe so English is basically my second language, and I recently attended a French course, where, by the time I left, I had reached an upper intermediate level.
I got some leaflets about Wales from the travel agency recently.

I haven’t seen them recently.
Have you used it recently?
Has Jill said anything recently?

Thank you very much for your help.

2

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‘Recently’ can appear with either verb form, but more commonly with the present perfect because the word itself relates the past to the present moment. ‘Recently’ has no rule independent of the guidelines for using the two verb forms.
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