<i>1a. Couldn't it be reduced form because repeating the words is unnecessary?</i><br/><br/><i></i><br/><br/><i>1b. Couldn't it be a reduced form, reduced because repeating the words is unnecessary?</i><br/><br/>Is b better, because it is clearer what the adverbial clause in bold modifies (that is, reduced, not 'be')?<br/><br/><i>2a. I saw a man with a basket of fresh berries and a stack of magazines, selling to the people in the neighbourhood.</i><br/><br/><i></i><br/><br/><i>2b. I saw a man with a basket of fresh berries and a stack of magazines, a man selling to the people in the neighbourhood.</i><br/><br/>For the sake of this question, assume there is no better way to write this sentence above. Do you prefer 2a or 2b?