To express object transfer, Cantonese-speakers use a "ditransitive" ([V-R-T] or [V-T-R] where V = Verb, T = Theme, R = Recipient), or a more complex prepositional/serial-verb (P/SV) construction. Clausal elements in Cantonese datives can be optional (resulting in "full" versus "non-full" forms) or appear in variant orders (full non-canonical and full canonical). We report on usage of dative constructions with the word "bei2" "to give" in 86 parents and 53 three-year-old children during conversations. The parents used more P/SV than ditransitive "bei2"-datives, and vice versa for the children. Both groups showed a similar usage pattern of optional elements and variant structures in their ditransitive and P/SV "bei2"-datives. The roles of multiple construction types, optional elements and variant structures in children's learning of "bei2"-dative constructions are described. (Contains 3 tables and 1 footnote.)