Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 648 · 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?
   “Sahil stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Arjun was tired.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Vihaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is cold? (a) Maria grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Maria shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Maria was cold.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Kabir was scared.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Diya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is sad? (a) Maria was sad. (b) Maria rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is cold? (a) Aryan was cold. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) angry
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was tired.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Kavya was hungry.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Ishaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Ishaan was cold.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) angry
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) tired
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) scared
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Nisha was angry. (c) Nisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Priya was angry.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is cold? (a) Sneha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (b) Sneha was cold. (c) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Manav was scared. (c) Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) angry
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (c) Arjun was scared.
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) cold (b) angry (c) hungry
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya was sad. (b) Diya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Diya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
33. 33.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) happy
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Arjun’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Arjun was scared.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Tears filled Meera’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Meera was hungry.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy

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