Reciprocal
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2023-11-19

The term "reciprocal" is used to describe a mutual or shared action or relationship between two or more parties. It implies that the actions or benefits are given and received in equal measure. In English, the word "reciprocal" can be used as an adjective, a noun, or a verb.
1. As an adjective:
When used as an adjective, "reciprocal" describes a relationship or action that is mutual or corresponding. It emphasizes the idea of two or more parties exchanging or mirroring each other's actions. For example:
- "They have a reciprocal friendship." 
   This means that the friendship between two people is equally valued and both parties contribute to it in a similar way.
- "The two countries have a reciprocal trade agreement."
   This implies that the trade agreement between the two countries involves equal benefits and obligations for both parties.
2. As a noun:
As a noun, "reciprocal" refers to a number or quantity that, when multiplied by another, equals one. For example:
- "The reciprocal of 5 is 1/5."
   This means that when you multiply 5 by its reciprocal, which is 1/5, the result is 1.
- "To find the reciprocal of a fraction, you invert it."
   In this case, the reciprocal of a fraction is found by flipping the numerator and denominator.
3. As a verb:
When used as a verb, "reciprocate" means to give or do something in return or response to an action. It implies a mutual exchange of actions or gestures. For example:
- "She reciprocated his kindness by inviting him for dinner."
   This means that she responded to his kindness by showing him the same level of kindness, inviting him for dinner.
- "If someone smiles at you, it's polite to reciprocate the smile."
   Here, reciprocating the smile means responding with a smile of your own.
In summary, the term "reciprocal" is used to describe a mutual or shared action or relationship between parties. It can be used as an adjective to describe a mutual relationship, as a noun to denote the multiplicative inverse of a number, or as a verb to describe the act of giving or responding in kind.