by的使用方法(by the passage of time)

Assignments are thus felt to be given added weight by the passage of time.

句中 by 是伴随伴随时间的流逝的意思吗？

我把这个句子转换一下：

Assignments are thus felt to be given added weight by the passage of time.

=Thus，it is felt that assignmentswill begiven added weight by the passage of time.

that从句改为主动语态：

=Thus, it is felt that the passage of time will give assignments added weight.

由此可知，the passage of time是give的主语，assignments为间接宾语, added weight为直接宾语。改为被动句后，间接宾语作了主语，直接宾语成了保留宾语，原来的主语由介词by引出作状语（方法/施事状语）。根据汉语习惯将by翻译为“伴随（时间的流逝）”是完全可以的。