What does gripping mean?
Word: Gripping
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Gripping means holding your attention because it is very exciting.
Synonyms: exciting
How do you spell gripping?
Syllables: grip - ping
Tricky part: The p is doubled before ing, because grip is a short word that ends in one vowel and one consonant.
Watch out for: gripeing, grippin
Memory tip: A gripping story will not let go of you, so the p holds on and appears again.
Gripping in a sentence
Example 1: The last over of the match was so gripping that nobody left their seat.
Example 2: Anjali could not put down the gripping mystery about a missing parrot.
Example 3: Our teacher read us a gripping chapter and stopped right at the best part.
Fun Fact
Take away one p and the word becomes griping, which means complaining. One letter makes the difference between a story that excites you and a person who grumbles.
Practise the CREST Way
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
igpnirpg
a) very long and full of tiny details
b) making you laugh out loud again and again
c) too difficult for most readers to follow
d) so tense that you cannot stop reading or watching
Show answer
d) so tense that you cannot stop reading or watching. Sorted out, the letters spell gripping, the word for a story that keeps you hooked.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its synonym:
1. gripping 2. tiny 3. damp a. little b. thrilling c. moist
a) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Gripping goes with thrilling, tiny with little and damp with moist.
Sound Check
In which word is 'g' pronounced differently?
a) giant
b) gravy
c) garden
d) gripping
Show answer
a) giant. Giant starts with the soft g of jam; the others start with the hard g of go.
Word Tally
You get 3 marks for each correctly spelt word in the list. How many marks will you get?
gripping, suspence, mystery, plot, charactor, adventure
a) 6
b) 9
c) 12
d) 15
Show answer
c) 12. Suspense and character are misspelt, so four words score 3 marks each.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these would a reader most likely say about a gripping book?
a) I skipped most of the middle.
b) I fell asleep on page two.
c) I gave up after a chapter.
d) I read it in one sitting.
Show answer
d) I read it in one sitting.
2. Which word is the opposite of gripping when used about a film?
a) dull
b) short
c) colourful
d) loud
Show answer
a) dull
