Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 642 · 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 Maria is happy? (a) Maria was happy. (b) Maria laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Maria’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Nisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Simran could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) tired
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is bored? (a) Tara was bored. (b) Tara drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi was scared. (b) Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Tears filled Saanvi’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is hungry? (a) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Farhan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Farhan was hungry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Maria’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Sahil counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is cold? (a) Meera was cold. (b) Meera dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Meera rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) sad
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) bored
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Kabir was scared. (c) Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) happy
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) sad
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Aryan was scared. (c) Aryan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) bored
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) cold
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is scared? (a) Nisha was scared. (b) Nisha gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Nisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is happy? (a) Tenzin’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Tenzin was happy.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) angry
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) sad
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) angry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is hungry? (a) Nisha was hungry. (b) Nisha kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Zoya was scared. (c) Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.

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