Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 710 · 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?
   “Ananya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Arjun’s cheek. (b) Arjun was sad. (c) Arjun shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Priya felt very cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil folded his arms and glared at his brother. (c) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Imran was cold. (c) Imran’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Diya was sad. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Diya’s cheek.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) scared
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) angry
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is scared? (a) Ananya was scared. (b) Ananya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Imran’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Imran was hungry.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is hungry? (a) Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Ishaan was hungry. (c) Ishaan kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) happy (c) scared
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) cold
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) tired
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) happy
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is scared? (a) Riya was scared. (b) Riya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya was bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is cold? (a) Tara was cold. (b) Tara’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Tara’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is bored? (a) Meera was bored. (b) Meera’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Meera kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) happy (c) bored
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is angry? (a) Tenzin was angry. (b) Tenzin threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Tenzin grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.

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