Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 402 · 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 felt very bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Rohan stamped his foot and slammed the door.
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Sahil was bored. (c) Sahil’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Pooja kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Pooja was hungry.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is hungry? (a) Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek. (c) Priya was hungry.
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) happy
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) cold
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Vihaan’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Vihaan was bored.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) bored
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav was cold. (b) Aarav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) sad
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is cold? (a) Ananya was cold. (b) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan was bored. (b) Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) cold
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Nisha was scared. (c) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Neel was sad. (c) Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) tired (b) angry (c) bored
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Manav’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is cold? (a) Simran’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Simran was cold. (c) Simran beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) happy

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