Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 349 · 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?
   “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) tired
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Simran was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is bored? (a) Imran was bored. (b) Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Imran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Sneha was sad. (c) Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) cold
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is bored? (a) Manav was bored. (b) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aisha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Priya was tired.

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