Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 767 · 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?
   “Tara dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Saanvi’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) cold (b) tired (c) scared
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is cold? (a) Zoya was cold. (b) Zoya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Zoya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is hungry? (a) Yash kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Yash was hungry. (c) Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.
6. 6.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Manav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Manav was scared.
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Ananya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) telling (b) showing
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is happy? (a) Ananya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Ananya was happy. (c) Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Ishaan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was cold.
13. 13.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ananya is bored? (a) Ananya was bored. (b) Ananya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ananya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
14. 14.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tenzin drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) bored
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) cold (b) scared (c) happy
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Kavya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) sad (b) cold (c) bored
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is happy? (a) Yash was happy. (b) Yash shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Yash hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Ishaan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Ishaan was cold.
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is happy? (a) Maria hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Maria was happy. (c) Maria sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
21. 21.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is scared? (a) Aarav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aarav was scared.
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Kavya was happy. (c) Kavya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is happy? (a) Kabir laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Kabir was happy. (c) Kabir threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
24. 24.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is hungry? (a) Meera was hungry. (b) Meera’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Meera kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
25. 25.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Nisha sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) bored
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is sad? (a) Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Aarav stamped his foot and slammed the door. (c) Aarav was sad.
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan folded his arms and glared at his brother.” (a) showing (b) telling
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Arjun was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is angry? (a) Riya was angry. (b) Riya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Riya’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists.
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is hungry? (a) Aryan could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (b) Aryan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Aryan was hungry.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Maria kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (c) Maria was hungry.
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Fatima gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping.” (a) telling (b) showing
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is happy? (a) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (b) Farhan was happy. (c) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch. (b) Priya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Priya was cold.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Zoya’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.” (a) scared (b) happy (c) cold
37. 37.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is sad? (a) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Diya was sad.
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is scared? (a) Rohan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (b) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Rohan was scared.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Rohan’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) tired
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling

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