Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 741 · 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?
   “Farhan was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is scared? (a) Arjun licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Arjun was scared. (c) Arjun’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima was really cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
5. 5.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Riya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) tired
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is scared? (a) Zoya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Zoya was scared. (c) Zoya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is bored? (a) Vihaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Vihaan was bored. (c) Vihaan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.
8. 8.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) showing (b) telling
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (b) Saanvi stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Saanvi was angry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) hungry
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) tired
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan stamped his foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) tired
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad
17. 17.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) scared (b) angry (c) happy
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) hungry
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is cold? (a) Arjun’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (b) Arjun grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (c) Arjun was cold.
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) sad
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) angry
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya felt very hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was really sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Nisha kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Vihaan’s cheek.” (a) telling (b) showing
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav was really bored.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is scared? (a) Sneha was scared. (b) Sneha counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Sneha’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) bored (b) cold (c) tired
36. 36.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) scared
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Riya beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (b) Diya was cold. (c) Diya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir was hungry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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