What is inversion?

Inversion is the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase. There are two types of inversion:

1. Subject-verb inversion, where the subject and the main verb switch positions and the word order
becomes verb + subject:
 On the top of the hill stood an old oak tree.

2. Subject-auxiliary inversion, where the subject and the auxiliary switch positions and the word order
becomes auxiliary + subject (+ verb):
 Hardly had I arrived home when my phone rang.
 When does the bus leave?
 You're hungry, aren't you?