Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 824 · 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 sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is angry? (a) Aarav’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Aarav was angry. (c) A tear rolled slowly down Aarav’s cheek.
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Fatima counted the ceiling fans for the tenth time.” (a) sad (b) bored (c) happy
3. 3.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Imran sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) showing (b) telling
4. 4.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Saanvi threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) hungry (b) angry (c) happy
5. 5.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Yash was sad.” (a) telling (b) showing
6. 6.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Simran grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) telling (b) showing
7. 7.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is cold? (a) Diya’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home. (b) Diya’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter. (c) Diya was cold.
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is scared? (a) Manav’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Manav’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Manav was scared.
9. 9.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Rohan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
10. 10.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Yash sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) happy (b) bored (c) tired
11. 11.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kabir’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
12. 12.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed her eyes shut.” (a) telling (b) showing
13. 13.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Kavya kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) cold
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Yash is angry? (a) Tears filled Yash’s eyes, and he stared at the floor. (b) Yash’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (c) Yash was angry.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is tired? (a) Rohan was tired. (b) Rohan rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Rohan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling.
16. 16.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Saanvi is angry? (a) Saanvi was angry. (b) Saanvi folded her arms and glared at her brother. (c) Saanvi licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in.
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Ishaan is scared? (a) Ishaan’s knees shook, and he hid behind the door. (b) Ishaan hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Ishaan was scared.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Priya kept peeping into the kitchen for lunch.” (a) hungry (b) cold (c) sad
19. 19.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Joseph kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.” (a) cold (b) bored (c) scared
20. 20.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is angry? (a) Rohan threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Rohan was angry. (c) Rohan drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.
21. 21.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tara froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) happy
22. 22.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Vihaan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) telling (b) showing
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is happy? (a) Diya’s nose turned pink, and she pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Diya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (c) Diya was happy.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Tears filled Sahil’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.” (a) scared (b) tired (c) sad
25. 25.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Manav is sad? (a) Manav was sad. (b) Manav drummed his fingers and stared at the clock. (c) Tears filled Manav’s eyes, and he stared at the floor.
26. 26.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Neel’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
27. 27.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Diya froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.” (a) hungry (b) scared (c) tired
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aarav is tired? (a) Aarav was tired. (b) Aarav’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter. (c) Aarav rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
29. 29.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aarav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) telling (b) showing
30. 30.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “A tear rolled slowly down Yash’s cheek.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) sad
31. 31.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Imran is happy? (a) Imran’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. (b) Imran hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (c) Imran was happy.
32. 32.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Tara is scared? (a) Tara’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet. (b) Tara was scared. (c) Tara could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.
33. 33.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is bored? (a) Simran was bored. (b) Simran licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Simran drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Meera beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) sad
35. 35.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Dev’s eyelids drooped, and he yawned again and again.” (a) showing (b) telling
36. 36.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.” (a) cold (b) happy (c) hungry
37. 37.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.” (a) telling (b) showing
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Aisha laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Simran’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) scared (b) angry (c) hungry
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tara threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!”” (a) telling (b) showing

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