Questions & Answers about Мы покупаем дешёвые яблоки.
Why does the adjective дешёвые end in -ые?
This is the regular plural ending for adjectives. The singular dictionary form is дешёвый (cheap). To describe plural nouns like яблоки, you drop the masculine -ый ending and add -ые.
We are buying the apples, so aren't they the direct object? Why don't they change to the accusative case?
They actually are in the accusative case! However, in Russian, the plural accusative form for inanimate objects (things that aren't alive) looks exactly the same as the nominative plural form. Because of this rule, both дешёвые and яблоки keep their standard plural endings here.
Is the plural of яблоко an exception? I thought neuter nouns ending in -о get an -а in the plural.
Spot on! Normally, neuter words ending in -о change to -а in the plural (like окно becoming окна). But яблоко (apple) is a common exception, and its plural is яблоки.
How does the verb покупаем match with мы (we)?