don?t know if it?s possible to change nor if it?s needed - just noticed that it?s not possible... I think ternary returns values and not references only, don?t know a solution other than maybe a ?& b:c
all other functions can return references, ? can?t, although it is an operator, it is used function-like

<?php
$test1=1;
$test2=2;
$test3=3;
echo $x =& $test ?	$test2:$test3;
echo $x;
$x=5;
echo $test3;
?>