Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 377 · 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?
   “Ananya was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Maria was happy.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Farhan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Tara’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Nisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Nisha was hungry.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya was bored.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ishaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) sad
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is hungry? (a) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Ananya was hungry. (c) Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil was hungry. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Imran was happy.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) tired
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) angry
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is sad? (a) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek. (c) Kabir was sad.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin was happy. (b) Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) tired (b) bored (c) cold
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan was angry. (b) Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Tenzin laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Tenzin was happy.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is scared? (a) Sahil was scared. (b) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sahil gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) hungry
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is bored? (a) Joseph was bored. (b) Joseph laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Joseph counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy

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