Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 551 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Sahil was happy.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash felt very angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Imran could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Imran was sad.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is cold? (a) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Yash was cold. (c) Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Aisha was happy. (c) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan was cold. (b) Rohan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Rohan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya was angry. (b) Tears filled Riya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Riya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) tired
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) cold
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya was really tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) sad
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Joseph was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Joseph’s cheek.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is bored? (a) Dev was bored. (b) Dev shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Dev drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Rohan’s cheek. (b) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Rohan was sad.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is hungry? (a) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Manav was hungry. (c) Manav kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Neel licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Neel was hungry.
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) cold (b) hungry (c) angry
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Priya was bored.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) hungry (b) tired (c) scared
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sahil beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is hungry? (a) Sahil licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Sahil was hungry.
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is angry? (a) Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Manav was angry. (c) Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is happy? (a) Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Dev was happy. (c) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) telling (b) showing

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