Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 805 · 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?
   “Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.” (a) telling (b) showing
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Pooja shivered and stamped her feet in the snow.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Riya felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is angry? (a) Pooja was angry. (b) Pooja’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (c) Pooja folded her arms and glared at her brother.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Arjun is happy? (a) Arjun was happy. (b) Arjun rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Arjun laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Fatima felt very sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Yash’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) scared
8. 8.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Nisha drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) sad (b) scared (c) bored
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is happy? (a) Aryan laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (b) Aryan was happy. (c) Aryan’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
11. 11.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran felt very cold.” (a) telling (b) showing
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) showing (b) telling
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.” (a) showing (b) telling
14. 14.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is cold? (a) Aarav’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again. (b) Aarav shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Aarav was cold.
16. 16.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is bored? (a) Diya counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (b) Diya was bored. (c) Diya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.
18. 18.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Joseph was scared.” (a) telling (b) showing
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was hungry.” (a) showing (b) telling
20. 20.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Riya felt very angry.” (a) showing (b) telling
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav was really tired.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) happy (b) angry (c) bored
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek. (b) Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner. (c) Aarav was tired.
24. 24.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Farhan’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sneha is happy? (a) Sneha’s face turned red, and she clenched her fists. (b) Sneha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Sneha was happy.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Kavya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) telling (b) showing
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel was cold. (b) Neel shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (c) Neel drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
28. 28.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Ishaan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) telling (b) showing
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Pooja beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Diya gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara was really happy.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Aarav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) telling (b) showing
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Dev is sad? (a) Dev was sad. (b) Tears filled Dev’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (c) Dev froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
34. 34.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Maria’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
35. 35.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Pooja is scared? (a) Pooja was scared. (b) Pooja rubbed her hands and blew on her fingers. (c) Pooja gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aryan licked his lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.” (a) tired (b) sad (c) hungry
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) tired (b) hungry (c) bored
38. 38.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is hungry? (a) Imran was hungry. (b) Imran threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (c) Imran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s eyelids drooped, and she yawned again and again.” (a) angry (b) tired (c) sad
40. 40.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is cold? (a) Ishaan was cold. (b) Ishaan counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time. (c) Ishaan shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.

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