-기는커녕

-기는커녕 means the expected thing did not happen at all; instead, the opposite or something even worse happened.

대조·양보Contrast & concession

Han: 기는커녕 attaches to the plain verb stem; the past tense is shown only at the end of the sentence (일했어요).

Examples

너무 바빠서 점심은커녕 물 한 잔도 못 마셨어요.I was so busy that I couldn't even drink a glass of water, let alone have lunch.

약을 먹었는데 낫기는커녕 오히려 더 아파졌어요.I took the medicine, but instead of getting better, I actually got worse.

주말에 쉬기는커녕 밤늦게까지 일만 했어요.Far from resting over the weekend, I did nothing but work until late at night.

도와주려고 했는데 고맙다는 말을 듣기는커녕 혼만 났어요.I tried to help, but far from being thanked, I just got scolded.

-기는커녕vsN은/는 물론이고물론이고 confirms the first item and adds more; 커녕 denies the first item: 영어는 물론이고 중국어도 잘해요 vs 중국어는커녕 영어도 못해요.

-기는커녕vsV + 는 대신(에)대신 is a neutral substitution, often by choice; 기는커녕 means the result went against expectation: 쉬는 대신에 운동했어요 vs 쉬기는커녕 일만 했어요.

V/A+기는커녕

N+은/는커녕

쉬다 → 쉬기는커녕, 점심 → 점심은커녕

Do not mark past tense before 기는커녕 (not 쉬었기는커녕); the tense goes on the final verb of the sentence.
The second part usually states the opposite or a worse result, often with 오히려, or with 도/조차 + a negative; it is not used to add something good.
It describes facts with a disappointed or critical tone, so it is usually not used in commands or suggestions.
With nouns, the bigger thing comes first and the smaller one after 도: N은커녕 N도 못/안 ….

Wrong: ~~어제는 쉬었기는커녕 하루 종일 일했어요.~~

Right: 어제는 쉬기는커녕 하루 종일 일했어요.

기는커녕 attaches to the plain verb stem; the past tense is shown only at the end of the sentence (일했어요).

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.