Questions & Answers about Мы накупили одноразовой посуды для фестиваля.
Why do we use накупили instead of купили, and why is the object in the Genitive case (одноразовой посуды)?
The prefix на- here adds the specific meaning of accumulating a large quantity of something. Whenever a verb uses this accumulative на- prefix, its direct object must take the Genitive case rather than the Accusative. This is why we say накупили одноразовой посуды instead of using the accusative одноразовую посуду.
Why is посуды in the singular form if the translation says we bought 'a lot of tableware'?
Посуда is a collective noun and is uncountable in Russian, just like the English words 'tableware' or 'crockery.' Even when you are talking about hundreds of plates and cups, the noun itself remains singular. Here, it is in the Genitive singular.
How is the word одноразовой (disposable) constructed?
It is a compound word formed from один (one) and раз (time). With the adjective suffix, одноразовый literally means 'one-time' or 'single-use,' which is the standard Russian term for 'disposable.'