Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 37 · 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 Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan was bored. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Maria froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is tired? (a) Sneha was tired. (b) Sneha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sneha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is happy? (a) Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Priya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Priya was happy.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Vihaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Vihaan was bored.
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) happy
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Aisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Aisha was sad.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja was happy. (b) Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) bored
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Pooja was hungry.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is sad? (a) Sneha was sad. (b) Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) tired
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya was bored. (b) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Diya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Imran’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Pooja was bored.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is tired? (a) Imran was tired. (b) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is tired? (a) Yash was tired. (b) Yash’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Yash’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Tears filled Aryan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) angry
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is tired? (a) Neel rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Neel was tired.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is cold? (a) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Kavya was cold.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing

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