Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 232 · 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?
   “Aisha was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is tired? (a) Nisha was tired. (b) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is bored? (a) Neel kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Neel was bored. (c) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) tired (b) angry (c) sad
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Kavya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Kavya was sad.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is tired? (a) Zoya was tired. (b) Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) bored
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Nisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) hungry
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya was cold. (b) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is happy? (a) Fatima was happy. (b) Fatima grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) happy
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Joseph was tired. (c) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) scared
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) bored
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun stamped his foot and slammed the door.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Neel was tired.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is scared? (a) Meera was scared. (b) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing

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