Phase 4 Action + past tense irregular: Use of the irregular past-tense form within an utterance that has a main category of ACTION (i.e., there is a single-verb in the utterance and it is an action verb). 

The utterance would first be coded according to its main category (Action). The irregular past-tense form would be coded Tense/Aspect, Phase 4. (Note- this would happen regardless of the verb category used). 

The phase assignment for ACTION could then be done- it would be 4 because it contains the irregular past-tense form.

Utterance

Context/Explanation

She ate a cookie.