Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 596 · 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?
   “Tears filled Vihaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav was happy. (b) Aarav laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Aarav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tara was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Pooja was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Ishaan folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Ishaan was angry. (c) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Arjun was bored. (c) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil was tired. (b) Sahil dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) Aarav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Zoya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Zoya was happy.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is cold? (a) Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (b) Nisha was cold. (c) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is sad? (a) Joseph sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Joseph rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Joseph was sad.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) scared
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) cold
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) happy
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is tired? (a) Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Aryan was tired. (c) Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) happy (b) angry (c) hungry
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi felt very tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aryan was hungry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Riya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Tenzin was angry. (c) Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.

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