Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

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

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