Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 29 · 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 Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) cold
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima was sad. (b) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Fatima stamped her foot and slammed the door.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Imran was cold. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Imran’s cheek.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha was cold. (b) Nisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Nisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Yash was sad.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is angry? (a) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Arjun was angry.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Maria’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Maria was cold.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is tired? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Pooja was tired.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) angry
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) cold
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) happy
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Simran was tired. (c) Simran’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.

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