Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 124 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (Show the actions): A telling sentence names the feeling: was sad, felt tired. A showing sentence describes actions, faces and bodies: tears, yawns, shaking knees. Pick the showing sentence that fits the right feeling.

1. 1.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Sahil was hungry.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) angry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) happy
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Joseph was angry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Saanvi was cold.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Aryan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) cold
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) bored
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Kabir was scared.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Aarav was bored.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Kavya was tired. (c) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) scared
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) angry
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids