Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 435 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) angry
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan was sad. (b) Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha was sad. (b) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aisha’s cheek.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is sad? (a) Aryan was sad. (b) Aryan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is angry? (a) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kabir was angry. (c) Kabir stamped his foot and slammed the door.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) hungry
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Rohan was tired. (c) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is tired? (a) Simran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Simran was tired.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is bored? (a) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Ishaan was bored. (c) Ishaan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Yash was cold.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Pooja was scared.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph was sad. (b) Joseph froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (c) Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) sad
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) bored
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tara sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Arjun was scared.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) hungry

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