Show Don’t Tell Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 10: Show, don’t tell · Set 866 · 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?
   “Kabir’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) showing (b) telling
2. 2.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Aarav’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.” (a) sad (b) tired (c) angry
3. 3.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aryan is scared? (a) Aryan was scared. (b) Aryan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet. (c) Aryan kicked a pebble round and round the empty yard.
4. 4.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Neel is cold? (a) Neel’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (b) Neel was cold. (c) Neel’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home.
5. 5.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Simran is hungry? (a) Simran’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (b) Simran was hungry. (c) Simran laughed, clapped and twirled around the room.
6. 6.Which feeling does this sentence show?
   “Ananya’s heart thumped, and she hid under the sheet.” (a) hungry (b) bored (c) scared
7. 7.Is this sentence showing or telling?
   “Meera could barely keep her eyes open at dinner.” (a) showing (b) telling
8. 8.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Vihaan is scared? (a) Vihaan was scared. (b) Vihaan’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Vihaan’s heart thumped, and he hid under the sheet.
9. 9.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Rohan is cold? (a) Rohan rubbed his hands and blew on his fingers. (b) Rohan dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Rohan was cold.
10. 10.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.” (a) showing (b) telling
11. 11.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir hummed a tune and could not stop smiling. (b) Kabir’s nose turned pink, and he pulled on a woolly cap. (c) Kabir was cold.
12. 12.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Sneha’s shoulders drooped as she walked slowly home.” (a) angry (b) scared (c) sad
13. 13.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Yash’s teeth chattered, and he pulled his shawl tighter.” (a) telling (b) showing
14. 14.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is angry? (a) Kavya beamed and hugged everyone in sight. (b) Kavya stamped her foot and slammed the door. (c) Kavya was angry.
15. 15.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Diya is hungry? (a) Diya was hungry. (b) Diya licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (c) Diya grinned from ear to ear and skipped down the road.
16. 16.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima’s teeth chattered, and she pulled her shawl tighter.” (a) scared (b) cold (c) sad
17. 17.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Joseph is angry? (a) Joseph threw down the pencil and shouted, “Not fair!” (b) Joseph dragged his feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Joseph was angry.
18. 18.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class.” (a) sad (b) hungry (c) happy
19. 19.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Saanvi was happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
20. 20.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav gripped Mum’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut.” (a) scared (b) sad (c) happy
21. 21.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Imran drummed his fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) showing (b) telling
22. 22.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Zoya is angry? (a) Zoya was angry. (b) Zoya’s tummy rumbled loudly in the middle of class. (c) Zoya folded her arms and glared at her brother.
23. 23.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Meera is sad? (a) A tear rolled slowly down Meera’s cheek. (b) Meera was sad. (c) Meera froze and held her breath as the floor creaked.
24. 24.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Ananya drummed her fingers and stared at the clock.” (a) cold (b) sad (c) bored
25. 25.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Rohan was really happy.” (a) telling (b) showing
26. 26.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kavya is tired? (a) Kavya was tired. (b) Kavya laughed, clapped and twirled around the room. (c) Kavya rubbed her eyes and nodded off on the sofa.
27. 27.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Farhan is sad? (a) Farhan froze and held his breath as the floor creaked. (b) Farhan’s shoulders drooped as he walked slowly home. (c) Farhan was sad.
28. 28.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Kabir is cold? (a) Kabir shivered and stamped his feet in the snow. (b) Kabir was cold. (c) Kabir froze and held his breath as the floor creaked.
29. 29.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Aisha is hungry? (a) Aisha gobbled the rice and asked for a second helping. (b) Aisha was hungry. (c) Aisha sat alone, hugging her knees and sniffing.
30. 30.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Sahil is tired? (a) Sahil was tired. (b) Sahil rubbed his eyes and nodded off on the sofa. (c) Sahil shivered and stamped his feet in the snow.
31. 31.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tears filled Ananya’s eyes, and she stared at the floor.” (a) showing (b) telling
32. 32.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Manav could barely keep his eyes open at dinner.” (a) cold (b) angry (c) tired
33. 33.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Meera was sad.” (a) showing (b) telling
34. 34.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Aarav beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) happy (b) scared (c) bored
35. 35.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Rohan beamed and hugged everyone in sight.” (a) bored (b) happy (c) hungry
36. 36.Which sentence SHOWS (without telling) that Maria is tired? (a) Maria licked her lips as the smell of dosas drifted in. (b) Maria dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed. (c) Maria was tired.
37. 37.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Fatima dragged her feet upstairs and flopped on the bed.” (a) bored (b) tired (c) happy
38. 38.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Tenzin was really bored.” (a) showing (b) telling
39. 39.Which feeling does this sentence show?
    “Maria stamped her foot and slammed the door.” (a) tired (b) angry (c) scared
40. 40.Is this sentence showing or telling?
    “Sahil sighed and flipped through the same comic again.” (a) telling (b) showing

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