diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/antlr4/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/parser/SqlBase.g4 b/sql/catalyst/src/main/antlr4/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/parser/SqlBase.g4
index 4d5d125ecdd7e..5afb2acd3ba6e 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/antlr4/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/parser/SqlBase.g4
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/antlr4/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/parser/SqlBase.g4
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ describeFuncName
     ;
 
 describeColName
-    : identifier ('.' (identifier | STRING))*
+    : identifier ('.' colpathIdentifier)*
     ;
 
 ctes
@@ -454,6 +454,10 @@ tableIdentifier
     : (db=identifier '.')? table=identifier
     ;
 
+colpathIdentifier
+    : identifier | ELEM_TYPE | KEY_TYPE | VALUE_TYPE
+    ;
+
 namedExpression
     : expression (AS? (identifier | identifierList))?
     ;
@@ -902,6 +906,9 @@ OPTION: 'OPTION';
 ANTI: 'ANTI';
 LOCAL: 'LOCAL';
 INPATH: 'INPATH';
+KEY_TYPE: '$KEY$';
+VALUE_TYPE: '$VALUE$';
+ELEM_TYPE: '$ELEM$';
 
 STRING
     : '\'' ( ~('\''|'\\') | ('\\' .) )* '\''
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/SessionCatalog.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/SessionCatalog.scala
index b06f24bc4866a..acc9bbf9146fa 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/SessionCatalog.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/SessionCatalog.scala
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.{CatalystConf, SimpleCatalystConf}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.{FunctionIdentifier, TableIdentifier}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.analysis.{FunctionRegistry, NoSuchFunctionException, SimpleFunctionRegistry}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.analysis.FunctionRegistry.FunctionBuilder
-import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.{Expression, ExpressionInfo}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.{Attribute, Expression, ExpressionInfo}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.plans.logical.{LogicalPlan, SubqueryAlias}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.util.StringUtils
 
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/interface.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/interface.scala
index 5efaf8f2010f2..eb2d6d9a42975 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/interface.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/catalog/interface.scala
@@ -110,6 +110,14 @@ case class CatalogTable(
   def partitionColumns: Seq[CatalogColumn] =
     schema.filter { c => partitionColumnNames.contains(c.name) }
 
+   /** Columns this table is bucketed  by. */
+  def bucketColumns: Seq[CatalogColumn] =
+    schema.filter { c => bucketColumnNames.contains(c.name) }
+
+   /** Columns this table is sorted by. */
+  def sortColumns: Seq[CatalogColumn] =
+    schema.filter { c => sortColumnNames.contains(c.name) }
+
   /** Return the database this table was specified to belong to, assuming it exists. */
   def database: String = identifier.database.getOrElse {
     throw new AnalysisException(s"table $identifier did not specify database")
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/SparkSqlParser.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/SparkSqlParser.scala
index 8128a6efe3ccb..04e6a0f7fc8d6 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/SparkSqlParser.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/SparkSqlParser.scala
@@ -218,32 +218,31 @@ class SparkSqlAstBuilder(conf: SQLConf) extends AstBuilder {
 
     // Create the explain comment.
     val statement = plan(ctx.statement)
-    if (isExplainableStatement(statement)) {
-      ExplainCommand(statement, extended = options.exists(_.EXTENDED != null),
-        codegen = options.exists(_.CODEGEN != null))
-    } else {
-      ExplainCommand(OneRowRelation)
-    }
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Determine if a plan should be explained at all.
-   */
-  protected def isExplainableStatement(plan: LogicalPlan): Boolean = plan match {
-    case _: DescribeTableCommand => false
-    case _ => true
+    ExplainCommand(statement, extended = options.exists(_.EXTENDED != null),
+      codegen = options.exists(_.CODEGEN != null))
   }
 
   /**
-   * Create a [[DescribeTableCommand]] logical plan.
+   * A command for users to describe a table in the given database. If a databaseName is not given,
+   * the current database will be used.
+   * The syntax of using this command in SQL is:
+   * {{{
+   *   DESCRIBE [EXTENDED|FORMATTED] [db_name.]table_name [column_name] [PARTITION partition_spec]
+   * }}}
    */
   override def visitDescribeTable(ctx: DescribeTableContext): LogicalPlan = withOrigin(ctx) {
     // FORMATTED and columns are not supported. Return null and let the parser decide what to do
     // with this (create an exception or pass it on to a different system).
-    if (ctx.describeColName != null || ctx.FORMATTED != null || ctx.partitionSpec != null) {
+    if (ctx.FORMATTED != null) {
       null
     } else {
-      DescribeTableCommand(visitTableIdentifier(ctx.tableIdentifier), ctx.EXTENDED != null)
+      val partitionKeys = Option(ctx.partitionSpec).map(visitNonOptionalPartitionSpec)
+      val columnPath = Option(ctx.describeColName).map(visitDescribeColName)
+      DescribeTableCommand(
+        visitTableIdentifier(ctx.tableIdentifier),
+        partitionKeys,
+        columnPath,
+        ctx.EXTENDED != null)
     }
   }
 
@@ -349,6 +348,19 @@ class SparkSqlAstBuilder(conf: SQLConf) extends AstBuilder {
     }
   }
 
+   /**
+    * A column path can be specified as an parameter to describe command. It is a dot separated
+    * list of identifiers with three special kinds of identifiers namely '$elem$', '$key$' and
+    * '$value$' which are used to represent array element, map key and values respectively.
+    */
+   override def visitDescribeColName(ctx: DescribeColNameContext): String = {
+     var result = ctx.identifier.getText
+     if (!ctx.colpathIdentifier.isEmpty) {
+       result = result  ++ "." ++ ctx.colpathIdentifier.asScala.map { _.getText}.mkString(".")
+     }
+     result
+   }
+
   /**
    * Create a [[CreateDatabase]] command.
    *
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/tables.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/tables.scala
index 6078918316d9e..d876021e40731 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/tables.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/tables.scala
@@ -24,11 +24,13 @@ import scala.collection.mutable.ArrayBuffer
 
 import org.apache.spark.sql.{AnalysisException, Row, SparkSession}
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.TableIdentifier
-import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.catalog.{CatalogRelation, CatalogTable, CatalogTableType}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.catalog._
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.catalog.CatalogTypes.TablePartitionSpec
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.{Attribute, AttributeReference}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.parser.CatalystSqlParser
 import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.plans.logical.{Command, LogicalPlan, UnaryNode}
-import org.apache.spark.sql.types.{BooleanType, MetadataBuilder, StringType}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.execution.datasources.PartitioningUtils
+import org.apache.spark.sql.types._
 import org.apache.spark.util.Utils
 
 case class CreateTableAsSelectLogicalPlan(
@@ -268,12 +270,26 @@ case class LoadData(
 }
 
 /**
- * Command that looks like
+ * A command for users to describe a table in the given database. If a databaseName is not given,
+ * the current database will be used.
+ * The syntax of using this command in SQL is:
  * {{{
- *   DESCRIBE (EXTENDED) table_name;
+ *   DESCRIBE [EXTENDED|FORMATTED] [db_name.]table_name [column_name] [PARTITION partition_spec]
  * }}}
+ * Note : FORMATTED option is not supported.
+ * @param table table to be described.
+ * @param partSpec spec If specified, the specified partition is described. It is effective only
+ *                 when the table is a Hive table
+ * @param  colPath If specified, only the specified column is described. It is effective only
+ *                 when the table is a Hive table
+ * @param isExtended True if "DESCRIBE EXTENDED" is used. Otherwise, false. It is effective only
+ *                   when the table is a Hive table
  */
-case class DescribeTableCommand(table: TableIdentifier, isExtended: Boolean)
+case class DescribeTableCommand(
+    table: TableIdentifier,
+    partSpec: Option[TablePartitionSpec],
+    colPath: Option[String],
+    isExtended: Boolean)
   extends RunnableCommand {
 
   override val output: Seq[Attribute] = Seq(
@@ -286,20 +302,147 @@ case class DescribeTableCommand(table: TableIdentifier, isExtended: Boolean)
       new MetadataBuilder().putString("comment", "comment of the column").build())()
   )
 
+  private def formatColumns(cols: Seq[CatalogColumn]): String = {
+    cols.map { col =>
+      s"""
+         |${col.getClass.getSimpleName}
+         |(name:${col.name}
+         |type:${col.dataType}
+         |comment:${col.comment.orNull}
+       """.stripMargin
+    }.mkString(",")
+  }
+
+  private def formatProperties(props: Map[String, String]): String = {
+    props.map {
+      case (k, v) => s"$k=$v"
+    }.mkString("{", ", ", "}")
+  }
+
+  private def getPartValues(part: CatalogTablePartition, cols: Seq[String]): String = {
+    cols.map { name =>
+      PartitioningUtils.escapePathName(part.spec(name))
+    }.mkString(", ")
+  }
+
+  private def descColPath(table: CatalogTable, colPath: String): Array[Row] = {
+    val names = colPath.split("\\.");
+    val lastName = names(names.length - 1)
+    val fields = table.schema.map {c =>
+      StructField(c.name, CatalystSqlParser.parseDataType(c.dataType), c.nullable)
+    }
+    var dataType: DataType = StructType(fields)
+    for (i <- 0 to names.length -1) {
+      dataType match {
+        case s: StructType =>
+          try {
+            dataType = s.apply(names(i)).dataType
+          } catch {
+            case e: Exception =>
+              throw new AnalysisException(s"Column name/path: ${colPath} does not exist.")
+          }
+        case m: MapType if names(i) == "$key$" => dataType = m.keyType
+        case m: MapType if names(i) == "$value$" => dataType = m.valueType
+        case a: ArrayType if names(i) == "$value$" => dataType = a.elementType
+        case _ => throw new AnalysisException("Column name/path: ${colPath} does not exist")
+      }
+    }
+
+    val result: Seq[Row] = dataType match {
+      case s: StructType =>
+        s.map { f =>
+          Row(f.name, f.dataType.simpleString, "from deserializer")}
+      case d: DataType => Seq(Row(lastName, dataType.simpleString, "from deserializer"))
+    }
+    result.toArray
+  }
+
+  private def descStorageFormat(
+      table: CatalogTable,
+      storage: CatalogStorageFormat): String = {
+    // TODO - check with Lian - from StorageDesc - compress, skewedInfo, storedAsSubDirectories
+    // are not availble. So these are dropped from the output.
+    val storageLocationStr =
+      s"""
+         |${storage.getClass.getSimpleName}(location:${storage.locationUri.orNull},
+         | inputFormat:${storage.inputFormat.orNull},
+         | outputFormat:${storage.outputFormat.orNull},
+         | numBuckets:${table.numBuckets},
+         | serializationLib=${storage.serde.orNull},
+         | parameters=${formatProperties(storage.serdeProperties)},
+         | bucketCols:[${formatColumns(table.bucketColumns)}],
+         | sortCols=[${formatColumns(table.sortColumns)}])
+       """.stripMargin.replaceAll("\n", "").trim
+    storageLocationStr
+  }
+
+  private def descPartExtended(table: CatalogTable, part: CatalogTablePartition): String = {
+    val result = StringBuilder.newBuilder
+    val clsName = part.getClass.getSimpleName
+    result ++= s"${clsName}(values:[${getPartValues(part, table.partitionColumnNames)}], "
+    result ++= s"dbName:${table.database}, "
+    // TODO - check with Lian - no owner info available.
+    result ++= s"createTime:${table.createTime}, "
+    result ++= s"lastAccessTime:${table.lastAccessTime}, "
+    // TODO - check with Lian - no retention info available.
+
+    result ++= s"sd:${descStorageFormat(table, part.storage)}, "
+    // TODO Check with Lian - Hive prints partition keys here. Since we output paritioning keys and
+    // schema already at the start i don't output it here again.
+    result ++= s"parameters:${formatProperties(table.properties)}, "
+    result ++= s"viewOriginalText:${table.viewOriginalText.orNull}, "
+    result ++= s"viewExpandedText:${table.viewText.orNull}, "
+    result ++= s"tableType:${table.tableType})"
+    result.toString
+  }
+
+  private def descTableExtended(table: CatalogTable): String = {
+    val result = StringBuilder.newBuilder
+    result ++= s"${table.getClass.getSimpleName}(tableName:${table.identifier.table}, "
+    result ++= s"dbName:${table.database}, "
+    // TODO - check with Lian - no owner info available.
+    result ++= s"createTime:${table.createTime}, "
+    result ++= s"lastAccessTime:${table.lastAccessTime}, "
+    // TODO - check with Lian - no retention info available.
+
+    result ++= s"sd:${descStorageFormat(table, table.storage)}, "
+    // TODO Check with Lian - Hive prints partition keys here. Since we output paritioning keys
+    // and schema already i don't output it here again.
+    result ++= s"parameters:${formatProperties(table.properties)}, "
+    result ++= s"viewOriginalText:${table.viewOriginalText.orNull}, "
+    result ++= s"viewExpandedText:${table.viewText.orNull}, "
+    result ++= s"tableType:${table.tableType})"
+    result.toString
+  }
+
   override def run(sparkSession: SparkSession): Seq[Row] = {
     val result = new ArrayBuffer[Row]
-    sparkSession.sessionState.catalog.lookupRelation(table) match {
+    val catalog = sparkSession.sessionState.catalog
+    catalog.lookupRelation(table) match {
       case catalogRelation: CatalogRelation =>
-        catalogRelation.catalogTable.schema.foreach { column =>
-          result += Row(column.name, column.dataType, column.comment.orNull)
-        }
-
-        if (catalogRelation.catalogTable.partitionColumns.nonEmpty) {
-          result += Row("# Partition Information", "", "")
-          result += Row(s"# ${output(0).name}", output(1).name, output(2).name)
+        val tab = catalogRelation.catalogTable
+        val part = partSpec.map(p => Option(catalog.getPartition(table, p))).getOrElse(None)
+        if (colPath.nonEmpty) {
+           result ++= descColPath(tab, colPath.get)
+        } else {
+          catalogRelation.catalogTable.schema.foreach { column =>
+            result += Row(column.name, column.dataType, column.comment.orNull)
+          }
+          if (tab.partitionColumns.nonEmpty) {
+            result += Row("# Partition Information", "", "")
+            result += Row(s"# ${output(0).name}", output(1).name, output(2).name)
 
-          catalogRelation.catalogTable.partitionColumns.foreach { col =>
-            result += Row(col.name, col.dataType, col.comment.orNull)
+            tab.partitionColumns.foreach { col =>
+              result += Row(col.name, col.dataType, col.comment.orNull)
+            }
+          }
+          if (isExtended) {
+            if (partSpec.isEmpty) {
+              result += Row("Detailed Table Information", descTableExtended(tab), "")
+            } else {
+              result +=
+                Row("Detailed Partition Information", descPartExtended(tab, part.get), "")
+            }
           }
         }
 
@@ -315,7 +458,6 @@ case class DescribeTableCommand(table: TableIdentifier, isExtended: Boolean)
   }
 }
 
-
 /**
  * A command for users to get tables in the given database.
  * If a databaseName is not given, the current database will be used.
diff --git a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/DDLCommandSuite.scala b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/DDLCommandSuite.scala
index be0f4d78a5237..71352070be0c1 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/DDLCommandSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/execution/command/DDLCommandSuite.scala
@@ -757,4 +757,28 @@ class DDLCommandSuite extends PlanTest {
     comparePlans(parsed2, expected2)
     comparePlans(parsed3, expected3)
   }
+
+  test("describe table") {
+    val parsed1 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE tab1")
+    val expected1 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", None), None, None, false)
+    val parsed2 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE db1.tab1")
+    val expected2 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", Some("db1")), None, None, false)
+    val parsed3 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE tab1 col1")
+    val expected3 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", None), None, Some("col1"), false)
+    val parsed4 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE tab1 PARTITION (c1 = 'val1')")
+    val expected4 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", None),
+      Some(Map("c1" -> "val1")), None, false)
+    val parsed5 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE EXTENDED tab1 PARTITION (c1 = 'val1')")
+    val expected5 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", None),
+      Some(Map("c1" -> "val1")), None, true)
+    val parsed6 = parser.parsePlan("DESCRIBE EXTENDED tab1 tab1.col1.field1.$elem$")
+    val expected6 = DescribeTableCommand(TableIdentifier("tab1", None),
+      None, Some("tab1.col1.field1.$elem$"), true)
+    comparePlans(parsed1, expected1)
+    comparePlans(parsed2, expected2)
+    comparePlans(parsed3, expected3)
+    comparePlans(parsed4, expected4)
+    comparePlans(parsed5, expected5)
+    comparePlans(parsed6, expected6)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveCommandSuite.scala b/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveCommandSuite.scala
index 8b3f2d1a0cd07..b843a06de3c67 100644
--- a/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveCommandSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveCommandSuite.scala
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 package org.apache.spark.sql.hive.execution
 
 import org.apache.spark.sql.{AnalysisException, QueryTest, Row, SaveMode}
-import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.analysis.NoSuchTableException
-import org.apache.spark.sql.hive.test.{TestHive, TestHiveSingleton}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.analysis.{NoSuchPartitionException, NoSuchTableException}
+import org.apache.spark.sql.hive.test.TestHiveSingleton
 import org.apache.spark.sql.test.SQLTestUtils
 
 class HiveCommandSuite extends QueryTest with SQLTestUtils with TestHiveSingleton {
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ class HiveCommandSuite extends QueryTest with SQLTestUtils with TestHiveSingleto
         |PARTITION(year = 2016, month = 4, hour = 10, minute = 10, sec = 10, extra = 1) SELECT 3, 3
       """.stripMargin)
     sql("CREATE VIEW parquet_view1 as select * from parquet_tab4")
+    sql(
+       """
+         |CREATE TABLE tab_complex (col1 map <int, string>,
+         |col2 struct <f1:int, f2:String >, col3 map<int, struct<f3: int, f4: string>>)
+       """.stripMargin)
   }
 
   override protected def afterAll(): Unit = {
@@ -71,6 +76,7 @@ class HiveCommandSuite extends QueryTest with SQLTestUtils with TestHiveSingleto
       sql("DROP VIEW IF EXISTS parquet_view1")
       sql("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS parquet_tab4")
       sql("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS parquet_tab5")
+      sql("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS tab_complex")
     } finally {
       super.afterAll()
     }
@@ -152,6 +158,47 @@ class HiveCommandSuite extends QueryTest with SQLTestUtils with TestHiveSingleto
     }
   }
 
+  test("describe table - negative tests") {
+    val message1 = intercept[NoSuchTableException] {
+      sql("DESCRIBE bad_table")
+    }.getMessage
+    assert(message1.contains("Table or View bad_table not found"))
+    val message2 = intercept[AnalysisException] {
+      sql("DESCRIBE parquet_tab2 PARTITION (day=31)")
+    }.getMessage
+    assert(message2.contains("table is not partitioned but partition spec exists: {day=31}"))
+    val message3 = intercept[AnalysisException] {
+      sql("DESCRIBE parquet_tab4 PARTITION (Year=2000, month='10')")
+    }.getMessage
+    assert(message3.contains("Partition not found in table parquet_tab4 database default"))
+    val message4 = intercept[AnalysisException] {
+      sql("DESCRIBE parquet_tab2 invalidCol")
+    }.getMessage
+    assert(message4.contains("Column name/path: invalidCol does not exist"))
+  }
+
+  test("describe column - nested") {
+    checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col1.$key$"),
+      Row("$key$", "int", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+    checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col1.$value$"),
+      Row("$value$", "string", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+    checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col1"),
+      Row("col1", "map<int,string>", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+    checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col2.f1"),
+      Row("f1", "int", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+    checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col2"),
+      Row("f1", "int", "from deserializer") ::
+        Row("f2", "string", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+     checkAnswer(
+      sql("describe tab_complex col3.$value$.f3"),
+      Row("f3", "int", "from deserializer") :: Nil)
+  }
+
   test("LOAD DATA") {
     withTable("non_part_table", "part_table") {
       sql(
diff --git a/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveQuerySuite.scala b/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveQuerySuite.scala
index 3bf0e84267419..43f1b03e768b9 100644
--- a/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveQuerySuite.scala
+++ b/sql/hive/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/hive/execution/HiveQuerySuite.scala
@@ -819,6 +819,35 @@ class HiveQuerySuite extends HiveComparisonTest with BeforeAndAfter {
         .collect()
     }
 
+    // Describe a column is a native command
+    assertResult(Array(Row("value", "string", "from deserializer"))) {
+      sql("DESCRIBE test_describe_commands1 value")
+        .select('col_name, 'data_type, 'comment)
+        .collect()
+    }
+
+    // Describe a column is a native command
+    assertResult(Array(Row("value", "string", "from deserializer"))) {
+      sql("DESCRIBE default.test_describe_commands1 value")
+        .select('col_name, 'data_type, 'comment)
+        .collect()
+    }
+
+    // Describe a partition is a native command
+    assertResult(
+      Array(
+        Row("key", "int"),
+        Row("value", "string"),
+        Row("dt", "string"),
+        Row("# Partition Information", ""),
+        Row("# col_name", "data_type"),
+        Row("dt", "string"))
+    ) {
+      sql("DESCRIBE test_describe_commands1 PARTITION (dt='2008-06-08')")
+        .select('col_name, 'data_type)
+        .collect()
+    }
+
     // Describe a registered temporary table.
     val testData =
       TestHive.sparkContext.parallelize(