Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

The hearing takes place in public.

Breakdown of Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

• stattfinden: to take place
• die Verhandlung: the court hearing; the trial
• öffentlich: public or open to the public

Questions & Answers about Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

Why is the verb split up in findet ... statt?

Because the full verb is stattfinden, which is a separable verb in German.

• Infinitive: stattfinden
• In a normal main clause: findet goes to the usual verb position, and statt moves to the end.

So:

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

This is very common with separable verbs in German, for example:

• anfangen → Der Film fängt um acht an.
• einkaufen → Ich kaufe morgen ein.

In a subordinate clause or with an infinitive, the verb stays together:

• ..., weil die Verhandlung öffentlich stattfindet.
• Die Verhandlung soll öffentlich stattfinden.

What does stattfinden mean here? Is it related to English find?

In this sentence, stattfinden means to take place, to happen, or to be held.

Even though it contains finden, you should treat stattfinden as a separate whole verb with its own meaning. It does not mean to find in the usual English sense.

So:

• finden = to find
• stattfinden = to take place / to happen

This is a good example of why separable verbs should usually be learned as complete vocabulary items.

Why is öffentlich not öffentliche?