Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 283 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) hungry
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Arjun was bored.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is cold? (a) Tenzin was cold. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) cold
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Joseph was scared. (c) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash was bored. (b) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aisha was happy. (c) Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) hungry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is bored? (a) Aisha was bored. (b) Aisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) cold
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun was scared.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Nisha was hungry.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) bored
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is happy? (a) Simran was happy. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared

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