Dim words As New List(Of String)(New String() {"an", "apple", "a", "day"})

Dim query = From word In words _
            Select word.Substring(0, 1)

Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder()
For Each letter As String In query
    sb.AppendLine(letter)
Next

' Display the output.
MsgBox(sb.ToString())

' This code produces the following output:

' a
' a
' a
' d

List<string> words = new List<string>() { "an", "apple", "a", "day" };

var query = from word in words
            select word.Substring(0, 1);

foreach (string s in query)
    Console.WriteLine(s);

/* This code produces the following output:

    a
    a
    a
    d
*/

Dim phrases As New List(Of String)(New String() {"an apple a day", "the quick brown fox"})

Dim query = From phrase In phrases _
            From word In phrase.Split(" "c) _
            Select word

Dim sb As New System.Text.StringBuilder()
For Each str As String In query
    sb.AppendLine(str)
Next

' Display the output.
MsgBox(sb.ToString())

' This code produces the following output:

' an
' apple
' a
' day
' the
' quick
' brown
' fox

List<string> phrases = new List<string>() { "an apple a day", "the quick brown fox" };

var query = from phrase in phrases
            from word in phrase.Split(' ')
            select word;

foreach (string s in query)
    Console.WriteLine(s);

/* This code produces the following output:

    an
    apple
    a
    day
    the
    quick
    brown
    fox
*/

Class Bouquet
    Public Flowers As List(Of String)
End Class

Sub SelectVsSelectMany()
    Dim bouquets As New List(Of Bouquet)(New Bouquet() { _
        New Bouquet With {.Flowers = New List(Of String)(New String() {"sunflower", "daisy", "daffodil", "larkspur"})}, _
        New Bouquet With {.Flowers = New List(Of String)(New String() {"tulip", "rose", "orchid"})}, _
        New Bouquet With {.Flowers = New List(Of String)(New String() {"gladiolis", "lily", "snapdragon", "aster", "protea"})}, _
        New Bouquet With {.Flowers = New List(Of String)(New String() {"larkspur", "lilac", "iris", "dahlia"})}})

    Dim output As New System.Text.StringBuilder

    ' Select()
    Dim query1 = bouquets.Select(Function(b) b.Flowers)

    output.AppendLine("Using Select():")
    For Each flowerList In query1
        For Each str As String In flowerList
            output.AppendLine(str)
        Next
    Next

    ' SelectMany()
    Dim query2 = bouquets.SelectMany(Function(b) b.Flowers)

    output.AppendLine(vbCrLf & "Using SelectMany():")
    For Each str As String In query2
        output.AppendLine(str)
    Next

    ' Display the output
    MsgBox(output.ToString())

    ' This code produces the following output:
    '
    ' Using Select():
    ' sunflower
    ' daisy
    ' daffodil
    ' larkspur
    ' tulip
    ' rose
    ' orchid
    ' gladiolis
    ' lily
    ' snapdragon
    ' aster
    ' protea
    ' larkspur
    ' lilac
    ' iris
    ' dahlia

    ' Using SelectMany()
    ' sunflower
    ' daisy
    ' daffodil
    ' larkspur
    ' tulip
    ' rose
    ' orchid
    ' gladiolis
    ' lily
    ' snapdragon
    ' aster
    ' protea
    ' larkspur
    ' lilac
    ' iris
    ' dahlia

End Sub

class Bouquet
{
    public List<string> Flowers { get; set; }
}

static void SelectVsSelectMany()
{
    List<Bouquet> bouquets = new List<Bouquet>() {
        new Bouquet { Flowers = new List<string> { "sunflower", "daisy", "daffodil", "larkspur" }},
        new Bouquet{ Flowers = new List<string> { "tulip", "rose", "orchid" }},
        new Bouquet{ Flowers = new List<string> { "gladiolis", "lily", "snapdragon", "aster", "protea" }},
        new Bouquet{ Flowers = new List<string> { "larkspur", "lilac", "iris", "dahlia" }}
    };

    // *********** Select ***********            
    IEnumerable<List<string>> query1 = bouquets.Select(bq => bq.Flowers);

    // ********* SelectMany *********
    IEnumerable<string> query2 = bouquets.SelectMany(bq => bq.Flowers);

    Console.WriteLine("Results by using Select():");
    // Note the extra foreach loop here.
    foreach (IEnumerable<String> collection in query1)
        foreach (string item in collection)
            Console.WriteLine(item);

    Console.WriteLine("\nResults by using SelectMany():");
    foreach (string item in query2)
        Console.WriteLine(item);

    /* This code produces the following output:

       Results by using Select():
        sunflower
        daisy
        daffodil
        larkspur
        tulip
        rose
        orchid
        gladiolis
        lily
        snapdragon
        aster
        protea
        larkspur
        lilac
        iris
        dahlia

       Results by using SelectMany():
        sunflower
        daisy
        daffodil
        larkspur
        tulip
        rose
        orchid
        gladiolis
        lily
        snapdragon
        aster
        protea
        larkspur
        lilac
        iris
        dahlia
    */

}