Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 273 · 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.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Pooja grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Pooja was happy.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) tired
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Priya was bored. (c) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aryan was hungry.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Neel was happy. (c) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun was bored. (b) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) cold
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is tired? (a) Ananya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Ananya was tired. (c) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) tired
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) cold
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) hungry
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Meera was tired.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Tara was angry. (c) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) tired
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Vihaan was cold.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is sad? (a) Pooja was sad. (b) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) hungry
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ananya was angry. (c) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Imran was happy.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.

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