Linking Verb Following a Past Participle?

I am writing an essay and it requires ALL present tense phrases.

One of my phrases:

is described

Would that be considered a present tense phrase? Or would it count as past tense?

Is it a linking verb following a past participle?

Solution 1:

Even though we call it "the past participle", on its own it has nothing to do with the past. Participles, gerunds and infinitives are all non-finite forms. They carry no tense at all. They easily combine with any tense.

was described -- past
is described -- present
will be described -- future

The "is described" example employs the present tense and the passive voice. Whatever is described, something describes or has described it.

Another construction that uses participles expresses what we call the perfect aspect:

had described -- past
has described -- present
will have described -- future