Breakdown of Den Schweiß auf der Stirn, starrt er auf den Gegner.
er
he
auf
on / to (down/up to a level)
der Gegner
the opponent
starren
to stare
Questions & Answers about Den Schweiß auf der Stirn, starrt er auf den Gegner.
Where is the German word for "with" in Den Schweiß auf der Stirn?
It's not there! This sentence uses the "Absolute Accusative" (Absoluter Akkusativ). Instead of using mit (with) plus the dative case, German can describe an accompanying circumstance or physical state simply by putting the noun phrase directly in the accusative case: Den Schweiß.
Why is the main noun Den Schweiß in the accusative, but auf der Stirn is in the dative?
The absolute accusative rule only sets the case of the core noun phrase describing the state—in this case, Den Schweiß. The prepositional phrase attached to it, auf der Stirn, still follows normal grammar rules. auf is a two-way preposition, and since it answers "where?" (where is the sweat?), it takes the dative (der Stirn).
Why does the verb starrt come immediately after the comma?
The entire absolute accusative phrase (Den Schweiß auf der Stirn) acts as a single block that occupies position 1 in the sentence. To satisfy the standard V2 rule (verb in second position), the conjugated verb (starrt) must immediately follow it, pushing the subject (er) to position 3.
Why does the English translation say "his forehead" when the German just says der Stirn (the forehead)?