Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 677 · 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 Dev is cold? (a) Dev was cold. (b) Dev’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “A tear rolled slowly down Saanvi’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Dev rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) tired
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) bored (b) sad (c) happy
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Priya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha was hungry. (b) Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Aisha licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha was angry. (b) Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya felt very hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) hungry
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is sad? (a) Kavya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Kavya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Kavya was sad.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Simran’s cheek. (b) Simran was sad. (c) Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Tenzin licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Tenzin was hungry.
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) happy
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aryan’s cheek.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is tired? (a) Aisha was tired. (b) Aisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is bored? (a) Arjun’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Arjun drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Arjun was bored.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) sad
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Pooja was scared. (c) Pooja froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Diya was tired. (c) Diya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) angry
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling

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