c# - Linq to entities : Many to many in one single select -

i have domain:

public class user {     public long id { get; set; }     public string login { get; set; }     public string password { get; set; } }  public class application {     public long id { get; set; }     public string name { get; set; } }  public class userapplications {     [foreignkey("user")]     public long userid { get; set; }     public user user { get; set; }      [foreignkey("application")]     public long applicationid { get; set; }     public application application { get; set; }      public datetime lastconnection { get; set; } } 

i want make select returns that:

list of select new {     user = user,     applications = applications // list of user's applications } 

i try:

from u in users join ua in userapplications on u.id equals ua.userid userapplications ua in userapplications.defaultifempty() join in applications on ua.applicationid equals a.id applications select new {     user = u,     applications = applications } 

but repeats user each application.

i know can in 2 select statements, dont want that.

how can that?

i not remember if entity frameworks groupby based on entity object (and extract it's id behind scene , replace things fits , like); code works case:

var q = uapp in cntxt.userapplications         group uapp uapp.userid             g             select new { userid = g.key, applications = g.select(x => x.application) }; 

and if willing have user extracted:

var q2 = uapp in cntxt.userapplications             group uapp uapp.userid                 g                 let u = users.first(x => x.id == g.key)                 select new { user = u, applications = g.select(x => x.application) }; 

assuming writing query against entity framework context - , not trying linq objects query.