Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 457 · 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?
   “Sneha felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is sad? (a) Neel was sad. (b) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is happy? (a) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Rohan was happy.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Neel was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) bored
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) cold
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is sad? (a) Vihaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Vihaan was sad. (c) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) angry
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) sad
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is sad? (a) Tara was sad. (b) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Tara beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) hungry
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) scared
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) tired
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is tired? (a) Manav was tired. (b) Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Manav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing

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