which is correct?

[Anonymous]

Suppose a survey person is asking a woman about her personal details.As part of that he asks,"Do you have telephone?".For that she replies yes.Next he asks,"could you please tell the number?"For that the woman replies,"Oh!yes,I thought you just wanted to know whether i had the telephone.

Now the question is,in the above context,shouldn't the woman have replied like the following one.
"Oh!yes,I thought you just wanted to know whether i have the telephone."

 

[Francois]

No, "whether I had " is correct.

FRC

 

[MikeNewYork]

Suppose a survey person is asking a woman about her personal details.As part of that he asks,"Do you have telephone?".For that she replies yes.Next he asks,"could you please tell the number?"For that the woman replies,"Oh!yes,I thought you just wanted to know whether i had the telephone.

Now the question is,in the above context,shouldn't the woman have replied like the following one.
"Oh!yes,I thought you just wanted to know whether i have the telephone."

IMO, either is correct. If she uses "had" it refers to the time she was asked the first question. If she uses "have" it refers to the time she is speaking the words. In this case, there is little difference in time and little likelihood that the situation changed.

She was being coy and playful, by the way. :wink: