Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 268 · 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?
   “Vihaan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.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 kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha was sad. (b) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Nisha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is angry? (a) Neel froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Neel folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Neel was angry.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is hungry? (a) Aarav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aarav was hungry. (c) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) happy
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) scared
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Kavya was happy.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) cold
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) cold
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek. (c) Imran was sad.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) happy
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Priya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is happy? (a) Nisha was happy. (b) Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) sad
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Sahil was tired.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling

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