diff --git a/rest_framework/generics.py b/rest_framework/generics.py
index dd8dfcf8d..11701f98d 100644
--- a/rest_framework/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/generics.py
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@ class GenericAPIView(views.APIView):
 
         return serializer_class
 
-    def get_serializer(self, instance=None, data=None, files=None):
+    def get_serializer(self, instance=None, data=None, files=None, partial=False):
         """
         Return the serializer instance that should be used for validating and
         deserializing input, and for serializing output.
         """
         serializer_class = self.get_serializer_class()
         context = self.get_serializer_context()
-        return serializer_class(instance, data=data, files=files, context=context)
+        return serializer_class(instance, data=data, files=files, partial=partial, context=context)
 
 
 class MultipleObjectAPIView(MultipleObjectMixin, GenericAPIView):
@@ -169,7 +169,17 @@ class UpdateAPIView(mixins.UpdateModelMixin,
     Concrete view for updating a model instance.
     """
     def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
+        return self.update(request, partial=False, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+class ParitalUpdateAPIView(mixins.UpdateModelMixin,
+                            SingleObjectAPIView):
+
+    """
+    Concrete view for paritally updating a model instance.
+    """
+    def patch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.update(request, partial=True, *args, **kwargs)
 
 
 class ListCreateAPIView(mixins.ListModelMixin,
@@ -209,7 +219,29 @@ class RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView(mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
         return self.retrieve(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
+        return self.update(request, partial=False, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.destroy(request, *args, **kwargs)
+
+
+class RetrievePartialUpdateDestroyAPIView(mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
+                                          mixins.UpdateModelMixin,
+                                          mixins.DestroyModelMixin,
+                                          SingleObjectAPIView):
+
+    """
+    Concrete view for retrieving, updating via PATCH (partial) or PUT (full),
+    or deleting a model instance.
+    """
+    def get(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.retrieve(request, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.update(request, partial=False, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    def patch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.update(request, partial=True, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.destroy(request, *args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/rest_framework/mixins.py b/rest_framework/mixins.py
index 1edcfa5c9..b71ab05c1 100644
--- a/rest_framework/mixins.py
+++ b/rest_framework/mixins.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class UpdateModelMixin(object):
     Update a model instance.
     Should be mixed in with `SingleObjectBaseView`.
     """
-    def update(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+    def update(self, request, partial=False, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             self.object = self.get_object()
             created = False
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class UpdateModelMixin(object):
             self.object = None
             created = True
 
-        serializer = self.get_serializer(self.object, data=request.DATA, files=request.FILES)
+        serializer = self.get_serializer(self.object, data=request.DATA, files=request.FILES, partial=partial)
 
         if serializer.is_valid():
             self.pre_save(serializer.object)
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/decorators.py b/rest_framework/tests/decorators.py
index 41864d71e..a36444cca 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/decorators.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/decorators.py
@@ -63,6 +63,20 @@ class DecoratorTestCase(TestCase):
         response = view(request)
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 405)
 
+    # def test_calling_patch_method(self):
+
+    #     @api_view(['GET', 'PATCH'])
+    #     def view(request):
+    #         return Response({})
+
+    #     request = self.factory.patch('/')
+    #     response = view(request)
+    #     self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+    #     request = self.factory.post('/')
+    #     response = view(request)
+    #     self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 405)
+
     def test_renderer_classes(self):
 
         @api_view(['GET'])
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
index a8279ef2b..1b55a3a53 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/generics.py
@@ -180,6 +180,19 @@ class TestInstanceView(TestCase):
         updated = self.objects.get(id=1)
         self.assertEquals(updated.text, 'foobar')
 
+    # def test_patch_instance_view(self):
+    #     """
+    #     PATCH requests to RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView should update an object.
+    #     """
+    #     content = {'text': 'foobar'}
+    #     request = factory.patch('/1', json.dumps(content),
+    #                           content_type='application/json')
+    #     response = self.view(request, pk=1).render()
+    #     self.assertEquals(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+    #     self.assertEquals(response.data, {'id': 1, 'text': 'foobar'})
+    #     updated = self.objects.get(id=1)
+    #     self.assertEquals(updated.text, 'foobar')
+
     def test_delete_instance_view(self):
         """
         DELETE requests to RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView should delete an object.
diff --git a/rest_framework/tests/views.py b/rest_framework/tests/views.py
index 43365e07a..7cd826565 100644
--- a/rest_framework/tests/views.py
+++ b/rest_framework/tests/views.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class BasicView(APIView):
         return Response({'method': 'POST', 'data': request.DATA})
 
 
-@api_view(['GET', 'POST', 'PUT'])
+@api_view(['GET', 'POST', 'PUT', 'PATCH'])
 def basic_view(request):
     if request.method == 'GET':
         return {'method': 'GET'}
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ def basic_view(request):
         return {'method': 'POST', 'data': request.DATA}
     elif request.method == 'PUT':
         return {'method': 'PUT', 'data': request.DATA}
+    elif request.method == 'PATCH':
+        return {'method': 'PATCH', 'data': request.DATA}
 
 
 def sanitise_json_error(error_dict):