An dieser Stelle ist der Weg glatt.

to be

Breakdown of An dieser Stelle ist der Weg glatt.

• an: at
• der Weg: the path
• glatt: slippery

Questions & Answers about An dieser Stelle ist der Weg glatt.

Why is it dieser Stelle and not diese Stelle?

Because an is a two-way preposition in German, and here it describes a location rather than movement.

• movement toward a place → accusative
• location in/at a place → dative

In An dieser Stelle, the meaning is at this spot / at this point, so German uses the dative.

• die Stelle = nominative
• an dieser Stelle = dative

Also, Stelle is a feminine noun, so the form of dieser must match:

• nominative feminine: diese
• dative feminine: dieser

So an dieser Stelle is the correct form.

What exactly is an dieser Stelle doing in the sentence?

It is an adverbial phrase of place. It tells you where the path is slippery/smooth.

So the sentence structure is basically:

• An dieser Stelle = at this spot / here
• ist = is
• der Weg = the path
• glatt = slippery/smooth

It answers the question Where is the path glatt?

Why does the sentence start with An dieser Stelle, and why is ist before der Weg?