Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 131 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil was angry.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek. (c) Fatima was scared.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) bored
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi was scared.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Zoya was happy.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph was scared. (b) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Priya was cold.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) scared
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kabir was tired. (c) Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel was happy. (b) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi was bored. (b) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Arjun was bored.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling

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