Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 221 · 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?
   “Simran was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was angry.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Rohan was happy.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kabir was sad.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya was happy. (b) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan was hungry. (b) Ishaan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Ishaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aisha was hungry. (c) Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera was cold. (b) Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) bored
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) hungry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Fatima was happy. (c) Fatima’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) hungry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Pooja’s cheek. (b) Pooja rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Pooja was tired.
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha was happy. (b) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is bored? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav was bored. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) bored
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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