diff --git a/rest_framework/generics.py b/rest_framework/generics.py
index cda9ca79c..19f2b7047 100644
--- a/rest_framework/generics.py
+++ b/rest_framework/generics.py
@@ -203,6 +203,10 @@ class RetrieveUpdateAPIView(mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
     def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
+    def patch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        kwargs['partial'] = True
+        return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
+
 
 class RetrieveDestroyAPIView(mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
                              mixins.DestroyModelMixin,
@@ -230,9 +234,9 @@ class RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView(mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
     def put(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
-        return self.destroy(request, *args, **kwargs)
-
     def patch(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
         kwargs['partial'] = True
         return self.update(request, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    def delete(self, request, *args, **kwargs):
+        return self.destroy(request, *args, **kwargs)