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I've seen expressions for living one's life expressed with the accusative: Она жила спокойную жизнь, as well as with the instrumental: Пока другие люди жили своей жизнью...

Is there any difference between these two usages or are they completely interchangeable?

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    First one is wrong, simply.
    – Anixx
    Commented Dec 20, 2016 at 16:42
  • Seconded—This verb is used so randomly with accusative or instrumental—help us out, please)
    – VCH250
    Commented Dec 20, 2016 at 16:58
  • 2
    Она вела спокойную жизнь, per chance?
    – bipll
    Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 0:22

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*Она жила спокойную жизнь is wrong, in my opinion. Instrumental case is needed here. You can, however, say онапрожила спокойную жизнь.

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  • Но ведь до того как она ее прожила, она ее жила?
    – Pavel Mayorov
    Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 7:08
  • @PavelMayorov - no. Она жила ей (тв. падеж).
    – user31264
    Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 7:47
  • Почему? В чем разница?
    – Pavel Mayorov
    Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 7:48
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    По-моему, вы тролль.
    – user31264
    Commented Dec 21, 2016 at 7:51
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    @CocoPop - yes, that's right.
    – user31264
    Commented Dec 22, 2016 at 15:12
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It can't be said "жить спокойную жизнь" - we rather say "spend" than "live" if wanna use accusative. So it'll sound as "она вела спокойную жизнь".

You should not use verb "жить" with accusative. It would sound strange (though will remain understood).

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  • Thank you, Boticelli! We also say LEAD a (quiet) life, etc.
    – CocoPop
    Commented Jan 9, 2017 at 13:16

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