I don't have a lot of experience with PbP, but what's happened so far is the GM tells me what happens, the ghoul missed, the other tries to trip you, then I re-describe everything with the resolution, like the ghoul succeeding in the trip. So even though the original action starts from the GM(which might be in present tense), it is all encompassed within my post. Which gives it some consistency. Not saying that's best...just how I've done it so far.
@ Ophidimancer
I kind of like that.
I like first person best when talking about things that might be completely wrong. Like a characters theories on who the bad guy is.