Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 333 · 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.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Ananya was cold.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) sad
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is cold? (a) Aisha was cold. (b) Aisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Arjun was cold. (c) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (c) Manav gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun was hungry. (b) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kabir’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is sad? (a) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Zoya was sad.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kavya’s cheek. (c) Kavya was bored.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran was cold. (b) Simran’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is angry? (a) Farhan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Farhan was angry. (c) Farhan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya was angry. (b) Riya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Dev was bored.
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) happy
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) bored
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is bored? (a) Maria counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Maria was bored. (c) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is tired? (a) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Meera drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Meera was tired.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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