Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 252 · 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?
   “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Aarav was cold.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Imran was happy.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya was bored. (b) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Riya was cold. (c) Riya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Nisha was happy. (c) Nisha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) cold
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Rohan was scared.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Rohan was tired.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is sad? (a) Ananya was sad. (b) Ananya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Ananya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya was tired. (b) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Dev was bored.

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