Ich kann nicht raten, geschweige denn die Entfernung abschätzen.

Geschweige denn is a fixed expression meaning let alone, much less, or never mind in the sense of adding something that is even less possible.

In this sentence, the speaker says:

• Ich kann nicht raten = I can’t even guess
• geschweige denn die Entfernung abschätzen = let alone estimate the distance

So the idea is:

• if I can’t do the simpler or more basic thing,
• then I certainly can’t do the more demanding thing.

It is a fairly formal or written-sounding expression, though it is still common and natural.

Because abschätzen depends on the modal verb kann.

In German, when a verb is used with a modal verb such as können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, sollen, mögen, the second verb appears in the infinitive without zu.

So:

• Ich kann raten
• Ich kann die Entfernung abschätzen

Not:

• Ich kann zu raten
• Ich kann die Entfernung zu abschätzen

Even though kann is not repeated after geschweige denn, it is still understood from the first part of the sentence.

Yes. That is exactly what is happening.

The full underlying idea is something like:

• Ich kann nicht raten, geschweige denn kann ich die Entfernung abschätzen.

But German normally leaves out the repeated material because it is obvious from context. This is very common with geschweige denn.

So the second part is elliptical: the modal kann and the subject ich are understood but not spoken.

Because abschätzen is an infinitive at the end of its phrase.

In German, infinitives often come at the end, especially when they depend on a modal verb. So:

• die Entfernung abschätzen = estimate the distance

This is normal German word order:

• object first: die Entfernung
• infinitive verb last: abschätzen

Compare:

• Ich kann das nicht verstehen.
• Sie will ein Haus kaufen.
• Wir müssen den Preis überprüfen.

So die Entfernung abschätzen is completely standard.

Because geschweige denn introduces a new coordinated element, and in standard German it is usually preceded by a comma.

So:

• Ich kann nicht raten, geschweige denn die Entfernung abschätzen.

The comma helps mark the break between the first statement and the stronger follow-up.

This punctuation is standard and expected.

Yes. Raten can mean two different things:

1. to guess
2. to advise

Here it clearly means to guess, because it is followed by geschweige denn die Entfernung abschätzen, which is about estimating something.

So the context makes the meaning clear.

Examples:

• Kannst du die Antwort raten? = Can you guess the answer?
• Ich rate dir, früher zu gehen. = I advise you to leave earlier.

Notice that when raten means advise, it often takes a dative object like dir, ihm, ihr.

Because nicht is negating the verb phrase kann raten.

In this sentence:

• Ich kann nicht raten

the speaker is saying that they are unable to guess.

With modal verbs, nicht often appears before the main infinitive when the main idea being negated is the action itself.

Compare:

• Ich kann nicht kommen.
• Sie will nicht warten.
• Wir dürfen hier nicht parken.

So nicht raten is perfectly normal.

It sets up a scale.

The first part names something already impossible. The second part names something that is even less likely, harder, or more far-fetched.

Here the logic is:

• I can’t even guess
• much less estimate the distance

So estimating the distance is presented as the more demanding action.

That is how geschweige denn normally works: the second item is stronger in some way.

Yes. It is very natural German.

Die Entfernung means the distance, and abschätzen means estimate or judge approximately.

So die Entfernung abschätzen means:

• estimate the distance
• judge roughly how far away something is

This is a common collocation, especially in contexts like travel, navigation, sports, or visual judgment.

Both can relate to estimating, but they are not always identical.

• schätzen can mean estimate in a general sense, and it also has other meanings such as appreciate/value
• abschätzen often emphasizes making a rough practical judgment based on observation

So:

• die Kosten schätzen = estimate the costs
• die Entfernung abschätzen = estimate/judge the distance

In this sentence, abschätzen sounds especially natural because distance is something you judge approximately.

Yes. A fuller version could be:

• Ich kann nicht einmal raten, geschweige denn die Entfernung abschätzen.
• Ich kann nicht raten, geschweige denn kann ich die Entfernung abschätzen.

The first adds nicht einmal = not even, which makes the meaning more explicit.

The second repeats kann ich, but that is less elegant and usually unnecessary. German often prefers the shorter version.

So the original sentence is compact, natural, and stylistically good.