Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 313 · 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 Fatima is cold? (a) Fatima was cold. (b) Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) tired
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Zoya was scared.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya was angry. (b) Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is sad? (a) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Priya was sad. (c) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) cold
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Nisha was angry.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) angry
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Zoya’s cheek. (b) Zoya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Zoya was sad.
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Sneha was sad.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Fatima was scared. (c) Fatima gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Simran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling

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