the sight of demolishing old buildings

[navi tasan]

Is this sentence correct?

1) I found the sight of demolishing old buildings fascinating.

Logically it seems fine, although the fact that the gerund doesn't have an agent makes the sentence look a bit strange to me. I think it is just me though. I'd prefer: "I found the sight of old buildings being demolished fascinating." But I think #1 is fine too.

 

[tedmc]

Only #2 is natural and makes sense.

 

[Tarheel]

A bit more idiomatic perhaps:

I love watching them tear down old buildings.

 

[jutfrank]

the fact that the gerund doesn't have an agent makes the sentence look a bit strange to me.

Yes, the fact that there isn't a specified agent is a problem.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Demolishing old buildings" isn't a "sight", in my opinion. It's an act.

I found the act of old buildings being demolished fascinating.
I found the demolition of old buildings fascinating.