A gerund is a form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing, e.g., asking in "do you mind me <u>asking</u> you?"
A direct object is a word or phrase that indicates the receiver of the action in a sentence, meaning that its position in the sentence is <em>after</em> the verb. A gerund is a verbal and even though it looks like a verb+ing its function is to name activities and it is a noun. The gerund is waiting and it is placed after the verb to be, so the answer is true.
