Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 367 · 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 Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek. (c) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya was hungry.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan was happy. (b) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Manav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) tired
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) cold
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Farhan was tired. (c) Farhan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Rohan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Rohan was tired.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara was sad. (b) Tara’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan was sad.
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Nisha was scared.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara was sad.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is bored? (a) Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Tenzin was bored. (c) Tenzin could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is happy? (a) Ishaan was happy. (b) Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is tired? (a) Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (b) Saanvi was tired. (c) Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry

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