maria uses hmm when she wants to keep herself going as she tries to develop the right words to finish her sentence. hmm is an example of

"hmm" is an example of an interjection used to express the action or process of thinking, hesitation, uncertainty, or reflection when someone is trying to develop the right words to finish a sentence. It serves as a verbal pause to keep the speaker going while they gather their thoughts. This usage is common in dialogue to indicate that a character is thinking or unsure about what to say next.