Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 513 · 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?
   “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tears filled Sneha’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) tired
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) angry
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Diya was hungry.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) tired
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) scared
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is scared? (a) Joseph was scared. (b) Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Joseph drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is bored? (a) Sahil was bored. (b) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Sahil kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is sad? (a) Yash was sad. (b) Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Yash’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is hungry? (a) Tara gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tara was hungry. (c) Tara hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is angry? (a) Tara was angry. (b) Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Sneha was hungry. (c) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is scared? (a) Imran froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Imran was scared. (c) Imran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir was happy. (b) Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera was hungry. (b) Meera grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Meera licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Pooja was scared. (c) Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing

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