Ablative Absolute; Latin Composition?

Question

How do I form the ablative absolute in Latin composition?

Answer 1

http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/grammar/whprax/w24-aa.html

My favourite ablative absolute is "dejectus spe", which is probably how you feel now!

Answer 2

Oh dear, my brain hurts. I have looked this up and have selected this definition as the most understandable (aargh). Here is the definition:

'The ablative absolute defines some circumstance which is connected with the action of the sentence. It is called 'absolutus (set free) because the Noun and Participle are independent of the rest of the sentence in construction. A dependent clause joined to the sentence by a conjunction may be used instead of an ablative absolute construction. For example, regibus exactis consules creati sunt could be replaced by *** reges exacti sunt.
The abs ab would not be used if the represents the subject or object of the sentence.

I would have thought that a rough example in English would be 'The Government having fallen, the Conservatives were elected. As I say though, my brain hurts.

Answer 3

It depends on the declension of your noun. You would change the ending of the noun as follows:

1st declension = -a (sg.) or -is (pl.)
2nd declension = -o (sg. ) or -is (pl.)
3rd declension = -e (sg.) or -ibus (pl.)
4th declension = -u (sg.) or -ibus (pl.)
5th declension = -e (sg.) or -ebus (pl.)