Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 740 · 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 feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) angry
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Diya felt very sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Ananya was bored. (c) Ananya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is tired? (a) Diya was tired. (b) Diya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Aarav was sad. (b) Aarav sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (c) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is sad? (a) Simran was sad. (b) Tears filled Simran’s eyes, and she stared at the floor. (c) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) A tear rolled slowly down Sahil’s cheek. (c) Sahil was happy.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is angry? (a) Priya was angry. (b) Priya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is angry? (a) Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Ishaan stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Ishaan was angry.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is scared? (a) Fatima was scared. (b) Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Fatima’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) bored (b) scared (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) sad
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya was happy. (b) Ananya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Ananya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) bored (b) sad (c) angry
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is hungry? (a) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Sneha was hungry. (c) Sneha’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya was bored. (b) Diya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Diya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Aarav’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap.
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is scared? (a) Kabir gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Kabir grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Kabir was scared.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran felt very bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is sad? (a) Imran shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Imran was sad. (c) Imran’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Farhan sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) bored
29. 29.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) tired
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is tired? (a) Tara was tired. (b) Tara sighed and flipped through the same comic again. (c) Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) scared
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is happy? (a) Sahil was happy. (b) Sahil laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sahil’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) happy
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is bored? (a) Pooja hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Pooja kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (c) Pooja was bored.
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is hungry? (a) Dev’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Dev was hungry.
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) Sneha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Priya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) telling (b) showing

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