Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 775 · 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?
   “Kabir licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) happy
2. 2.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash felt very happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is happy? (a) Kavya was happy. (b) Kavya sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing. (c) Kavya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is bored? (a) Priya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard. (b) Priya was bored. (c) Priya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Kabir was really hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Aarav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is hungry? (a) Kavya was hungry. (b) Kavya could barely keep her eyes open at dinner. (c) Kavya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aryan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.” (a) happy (b) sad (c) cold
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is angry? (a) Simran was angry. (b) Simran’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (c) Simran rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is tired? (a) Farhan was tired. (b) Farhan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Farhan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Manav’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.” (a) angry (b) hungry (c) tired
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tenzin is hungry? (a) Tenzin was hungry. (b) Tenzin’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Tenzin sighed and flipped through the same comic again.
15. 15.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) happy
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya was cold. (b) Diya rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Riya is happy? (a) Riya was happy. (b) Riya threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Riya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
18. 18.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Priya’s cheek. (b) Priya was tired. (c) Priya dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sahil’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Fatima is tired? (a) Fatima was tired. (b) Fatima’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again. (c) Fatima’s knees shook, and she hid behind the door.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is happy? (a) Aisha beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Aisha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Aisha was happy.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) showing (b) telling
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is hungry? (a) Maria gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Maria was hungry. (c) Maria threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very scared.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
28. 28.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Fatima’s cheek.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) sad
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kabir’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Priya is cold? (a) Priya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road. (b) Priya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Priya was cold.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is scared? (a) Saanvi’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Saanvi was scared. (c) Saanvi froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
34. 34.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan sat alone, hugging his knees and sniffing. (b) Rohan was cold. (c) Rohan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock. (b) Simran gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut. (c) Simran was bored.
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is angry? (a) Sneha stamped her foot and slammed the door. (b) Sneha was angry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Sneha’s cheek.
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) showing (b) telling
38. 38.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) sad
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ishaan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) cold
40. 40.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Pooja’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) tired (b) cold (c) sad

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