Which sentence shows the correct way to punctuate an indirect quotation?

“Many students said that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”
Many students said, “They would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”
Many students said that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.
Many students said “that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”

Question

Which sentence shows the correct way to punctuate an indirect quotation?
 	
	“Many students said that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”
	Many students said, “They would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”
	Many students said that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.
	Many students said “that they would love to have a salad bar in the school cafeteria.”

jack_prism · Answer

The first one would be correct because it is not quoting the students but quoting the students talking as one @mizuki