Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 759 · 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?
   “Kavya felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Nisha was bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) hungry (b) happy (c) tired
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Imran sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya was bored. (b) Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Ananya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is happy? (a) Vihaan was happy. (b) Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (c) Vihaan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aisha could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Farhan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) hungry
9. 9.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) tired
10. 10.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (b) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Joseph was angry.
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Simran was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) happy (b) tired (c) scared
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is happy? (a) Aarav folded his arms and glared at his brother. (b) Aarav was happy. (c) Aarav hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Riya was angry. (c) Riya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is sad? (a) Aisha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Aisha was sad. (c) Aisha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) cold
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is sad? (a) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Saanvi was sad. (c) Saanvi’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima was cold.” (a) showing (b) telling
23. 23.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) sad
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) hungry
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph stamped his foot and slammed the door. (b) Joseph was angry. (c) Joseph’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Kabir’s cheek.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) scared
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is angry? (a) Aisha rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (b) Aisha was angry. (c) Aisha folded her arms and glared at her brother.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) cold
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) angry (b) bored (c) scared
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is happy? (a) Saanvi hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Saanvi was happy. (c) Saanvi could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) sad (c) cold
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) cold
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Neel’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) angry
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
39. 39.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is scared? (a) Farhan was scared. (b) Farhan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Farhan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) sad

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