assert with ternary operator

[Shwetha Sharma]

Source : http://www.etattva.com/

 int a = 0;
 assert (a > 0) ? " failed" : " passed";
 

The explaination says :
Compilation error because Here ternary operator & augmented form of assertion are used in a wrong way. Syntex of ternary operator is <Boolean exp>?<msg>:<msg> In augmented form of assertion, syntax is, assert <Boolean expression> : <msg expression> If we write it as assert (a > 0) ? <Boolean exp> : <Boolean exp>; then it will compile .

I am not clear with the bold part.For eg if we use it as follows:
int a=0;
assert (a > 0) ? true : false;

what is the above code doing ??

[Ruben Soto]

assert (a > 0) ? true : false; is just a roundabout way of saying:
assert a>0;