Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 640 · 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?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Maria’s cheek.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Diya was bored.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Manav was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) happy
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) sad (c) happy
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek. (b) Sneha shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Sneha was cold.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is hungry? (a) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Riya was hungry. (c) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Dev laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Dev was hungry.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Vihaan was scared. (c) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Neel was cold.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is cold? (a) Riya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Riya was cold.
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya was happy. (b) Zoya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Zoya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aarav was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek. (c) Vihaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is happy? (a) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Pooja was happy. (c) Pooja dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) sad (b) angry (c) scared
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Aarav was cold. (c) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Arjun was tired. (c) Arjun dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil was tired. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is scared? (a) Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (b) Maria was scared. (c) Maria folded her arms and glared at her brother.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek. (c) Tara was cold.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) bored
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Maria was tired. (c) Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) scared

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