In what scenarios is using the dative case to express age preferred in Russian, and what are the nuances compared to other methods?

Using the dative case to express age in Russian is preferred in formal settings or when emphasizing the experience or state of being that comes with age. The dative construction typically involves using the verb 'исполниться' (ispolnit'sya - to turn, perfective) or simply implying it, with the person's name or pronoun in the dative case. For example, 'Ему исполнилось 20 лет' (Yemu ispolnilos' 20 let) – 'He turned 20 years old' or, more simply, 'Ему 20 лет' (Yemu 20 let) - 'He is 20 years old'. Compared to the alternative construction using 'мне/тебе/ему/ей…' + 'год/года/лет' + 'есть/было', which directly translates to 'I/you/he/she… have years', the dative construction subtly shifts the focus from possession of years to the experience of having lived that many years. The 'у меня есть' (u menya yest' - I have) construction is more common in casual conversation and focuses on the *quantityof years. For instance, 'У меня 20 лет' (U menya 20 let) – 'I have 20 years' (literally). However, the dative is more appropriate for describing a person's overall state of being at that age or for formal announcements of age milestones. It's also often used when discussing age in relation to responsibilities or capabilities, implying that the person has reached a certain level of maturity or experience. The choice depends on the level of formality and whether the emphasis is on the quantity of years or the state of being that accompanies them.