Questions & Answers about Я покупаю сапоги.
Why does the object сапоги look like it is in the nominative case instead of the accusative?
It is actually in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb. However, for inanimate objects (things that are not alive, like boots), the accusative plural ending is exactly the same as the nominative plural. The singular is сапог and the plural is сапоги.
How would I add 'these' to say 'I am buying these boots'?
Since сапоги is plural, you need the nominative/inanimate-accusative plural form of 'this/these', which is эти. The sentence becomes Я покупаю эти сапоги.
Does покупаю mean 'I buy' or 'I am buying'?
It means both! Russian does not have a separate continuous tense like English does. Depending on the context, Я покупаю can translate as 'I buy' as a general habit, or 'I am buying' right now.
Why does the verb end in -ю?
The dictionary form of the verb is покупать (to buy). To match the subject Я (I), we drop the -ть ending and add the first-person singular ending -ю, resulting in покупаю.
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