Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 719 · 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 Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Saanvi was bored.
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Tara’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) cold (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is happy? (a) Manav was happy. (b) Manav beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) cold
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is hungry? (a) Pooja sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Pooja kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Pooja was hungry.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Sahil was tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Zoya felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is cold? (a) Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Vihaan sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Vihaan was cold.
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is scared? (a) Priya was scared. (b) Tears filled Priya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Priya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is bored? (a) Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (b) Yash was bored. (c) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) hungry (c) tired
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) angry (c) hungry
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) hungry
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan was bored. (b) Aryan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya was happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Farhan was scared.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) Saanvi beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan was really hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) bored
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) angry (b) sad (c) scared
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) scared
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Kavya was tired.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Nisha is bored? (a) Nisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked. (b) Nisha was bored. (c) Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima was scared. (b) Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (c) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) angry
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is angry? (a) Vihaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Vihaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (c) Vihaan was angry.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is scared? (a) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Kavya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Kavya was scared.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Tara’s cheek.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother. (b) Pooja was scared. (c) Pooja’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.

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