Learn Hardcore Russian: Меню становится разнообразным.

Меню translates directly to menu. Although it most commonly refers to a restaurant’s list of dishes, it can also denote any list or selection (for example, options in a software application) where choices are provided. Additionally, note that this word, borrowed from French, is treated as a neuter noun in Russian and is typically indeclinable in many cases.

What does the verb становиться indicate in this sentence?

Становиться means "to become" and is used here in the present tense to signify that the menu is in the process of changing into a more varied state. It emphasizes an ongoing transition rather than a completed transformation. The verb is reflexive (ends with -ся), which is common in Russian when describing changes in state.

Why is the adjective разнообразным in the instrumental case?

In Russian, adjectives that function as predicate complements after verbs such as становиться are generally written in the instrumental case. This case is used to indicate the new condition or state that the subject is adopting. Therefore, разнообразным (instrumental form of разнообразный) shows that the menu is becoming varied, aligning with the grammar rule for stating transformations.

How does the neuter gender of Меню affect the form of the adjective?

Since Меню is a neuter noun, the predicate adjective must agree in gender. In this sentence, разнообразным is the correct neuter singular instrumental form of the adjective разнообразный. This agreement ensures that the descriptive state (becoming varied) properly matches the gender of the subject.

Could this sentence be expressed in a different tense to indicate a completed change, and what would change specifically?

Yes, to indicate that the change has been completed, you could use the perfective aspect. For example, saying Меню стало разнообразным uses стало (the past tense of стать, the perfective counterpart to становиться) to show that the menu has already become varied. The original sentence with становится emphasizes an ongoing process, while стало signals a finished transformation.