Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 181 · 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?
   “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Rohan was angry.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) cold
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha was angry. (b) Aisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is sad? (a) Tenzin was sad. (b) Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Tenzin’s cheek.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Neel was angry.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan was angry. (b) Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Vihaan was angry.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Dev’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) tired
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is angry? (a) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Fatima was angry.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) tired
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir was hungry. (b) Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan was scared. (b) Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy

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