[Grammar] The woman moved closer to Beth, gripping her arm tightly.

[yi-ing]

why do the writer use -ing form of the verb?

The woman moved closer to Beth, gripping her arm tightly.

Can we say that?

The woman moved closer to Beth, while she was gripping her arm tightly.

 

[Lynxear]

"gripping her arm tightly" is a present participle phrase which acts as an adverb describing how the woman "moved".

Your alternate sentence is fine. You just used an adverbial clause to do the same thing as you did in your original sentence. Actually I like the first sentence better.

 

[yi-ing]

a) We say the original because it fits perfectly.

Source -> http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/grip

b) When did the gripping start? While she was moving closer, or after she was closer? The original tends to suggest that it was after. We really don't know how far apart they were when the movement started.

You meant my suggestion didn't work here.

 

[yi-ing]

Actually I like the first sentence better.

Is the original sentence a king of adverbial reduction?