Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 459 · 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?
   “Fatima’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya was cold. (b) Priya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Priya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) hungry
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Rohan was sad. (c) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) tired
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) Manav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Fatima froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (c) Fatima was scared.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is tired? (a) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph was tired.
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is sad? (a) Fatima’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Fatima was sad. (c) Fatima beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) scared
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Zoya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Simran was bored. (c) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is tired? (a) Ishaan was tired. (b) Ishaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Kavya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Kavya was hungry.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Tara was scared. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Meera was angry.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) sad
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) scared
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Nisha’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Nisha was hungry.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) bored
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is bored? (a) Sneha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Sneha was bored. (c) Sneha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing

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