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In the following passage, shouldn't кораблекрушение be in the genitive case? Or is this a typo?

“Из разговора также совершенно ясно, что вахтенный заметил в свете хвостовых прожекторов человека, потерпевшего кораблекрушение.”

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Everything is correct in that sentence, the Accusative case is used correctly. Потерпеть is a transitive word, and its direct object, кораблекрушение is naturally in the Accusative case.

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  • I was looking at потерпевшего as a noun meaning "victim," but now I see it's actually a participle.
    – CocoPop
    May 24, 2014 at 15:13
  • @CocoPop - Yes it's a participle, the comma before it clearly indicates it's a participle. Still, that participle can be substantivized, used as a noun, but even in such case "кораблекрушение" will still be in Accusative.
    – Yellow Sky
    May 24, 2014 at 15:20
  • Really? So to state "the victim of a shipwreck" it would remain потерпевший кораблекрушение?
    – CocoPop
    May 24, 2014 at 15:34
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    Got it! I didn't know that binding principle of substantivized participles. That is very helpful. Thank you :)
    – CocoPop
    May 24, 2014 at 16:03
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    Great examples! I'm glad my mind wanted a genitive - it shows that I'm developing a feeling for the cases. The fact that I also understand your "lesson" adds another dimension to my навыки. Thank you
    – CocoPop
    May 25, 2014 at 12:50

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