Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 686 · 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?
   “Rohan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) bored
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is tired? (a) Arjun was tired. (b) Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Diya was bored.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Farhan was scared. (c) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is cold? (a) Manav sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Manav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Manav was cold.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is happy? (a) Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Zoya was happy. (c) Zoya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) Priya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Priya was tired.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is hungry? (a) Neel’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Neel was hungry.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is sad? (a) Rohan was sad. (b) Rohan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is bored? (a) Kavya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Kavya was bored. (c) Kavya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is scared? (a) Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Dev was scared. (c) Dev licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (b) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Aryan was bored.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) happy (b) cold (c) scared
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) scared (c) sad
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) scared (b) bored (c) hungry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was really angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Pooja counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) bored
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is happy? (a) Neel gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Neel beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Neel was happy.
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) scared
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) sad
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Dev was sad. (c) Dev’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera was hungry. (b) Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Meera’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) hungry
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is angry? (a) Nisha folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Nisha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (c) Nisha was angry.

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