Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 298 · 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?
   “Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aryan was sad.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) scared
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is cold? (a) Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Saanvi was cold. (c) Saanvi grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) scared
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Ishaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Ishaan was bored.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Priya was bored.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Meera was bored.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Dev was hungry. (c) Dev gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) cold
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan was tired. (b) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Aryan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is angry? (a) Sahil was angry. (b) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is hungry? (a) Fatima was hungry. (b) Fatima licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is bored? (a) Riya was bored. (b) Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Meera was angry. (c) Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.

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