Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 761 · 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?
   “Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Arjun was angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is angry? (a) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (b) Ananya was angry. (c) Ananya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
4. 4.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Tears filled Tenzin’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Farhan felt very happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.” (a) angry (b) happy (c) sad
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya was bored. (b) Ananya shivered and stamped her feet in the snow. (c) Ananya sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is bored? (a) Aryan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Aryan was bored. (c) Aryan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is angry? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya was angry. (c) Diya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aisha froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) cold
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Farhan was sad. (c) Farhan grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
15. 15.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) bored (b) hungry (c) sad
17. 17.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Vihaan’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) hungry
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) sad
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is bored? (a) Saanvi’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (b) Saanvi was bored. (c) Saanvi counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.
23. 23.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Neel’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
26. 26.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Joseph’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) hungry (c) sad
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) scared
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Arjun was happy. (c) Arjun beamed and hugged everyone in sight.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is sad? (a) Ishaan was sad. (b) Ishaan gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. (c) Ishaan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ananya hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) showing (b) telling
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is angry? (a) Meera was angry. (b) Meera stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is cold? (a) Imran was cold. (b) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Imran’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is bored? (a) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Rohan was bored. (c) Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Dev hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) sad (b) angry (c) happy
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is hungry? (a) Arjun gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Arjun was hungry. (c) Arjun sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing.
39. 39.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan was really cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aryan was angry.” (a) telling (b) showing

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