Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 291 · 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?
   “Riya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) bored
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Manav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Kabir was happy.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Tenzin was angry.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Riya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Riya was hungry.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav was scared. (b) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) angry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is tired? (a) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Kabir rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kabir was tired.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is bored? (a) Farhan was bored. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Ishaan was angry.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) angry
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is sad? (a) Nisha was sad. (b) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tears filled Nisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) tired
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is hungry? (a) Kabir’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Kabir was hungry. (c) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) sad (c) angry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Kavya was cold.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) hungry
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev was happy. (b) Dev’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Dev grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Pooja was happy.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) showing (b) telling

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