Sneha2021
KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrepThe Iroquois were primarily planters, but supplementing their cultivation of maize, squash, and beans with fishing and hunting.
Why we can't read A as "The Iroquois were primarily planters, but WERE supplementing....."?
Can we repeat verb after "but" when we are using comma + fanboys? Would like to understand acceptable construction with "but"
Thanks in advance

'were' is acting as the main verb in the first clause. It cannot be assume to be a helping verb in the second.
This is ok: The company was reducing clients but hiring more employees.
Here, 'the company was reducing clients' and 'the company was hiring more employees' are the two thoughts combined together with 'The company was' common to both.
The Iroquois were planters, but supplementing their cultivation with fishing.
Here 'but' joins an independent clause with a present participial phrase. If we assume that 'The Iroquois were' is common to both elements, the elements will be 'planters' (noun) and 'supplementing their cultivation with fishing' (present participial modifier). The elements are not parallel.