diff --git a/Readme.md b/Readme.md
index b23d01f2e..386802f48 100644
--- a/Readme.md
+++ b/Readme.md
@@ -404,6 +404,56 @@ Specifying a name with `executableFile` will override the default constructed na
 
 If the program is designed to be installed globally, make sure the executables have proper modes, like `755`.
 
+### Sub commands (handlers)
+
+This approach does not spawn a new process in comparison to *'Git-style executable (sub)commands'* above. Instead it forwards arguments to a subcommand instance which can be initiated with own actions, options (and further subcommands). See also `use-subcommand.js` in `examples` dir.
+
+```js
+const { Command } = require('commander');
+
+// supposedly sub commands would be defined in a separate module
+const subCommand = new Command();
+
+subCommand
+    // Name is mandatory ! it will be the expected arg to trigger the sub command
+    .name('journal')
+    .description('Journal utils');
+
+subCommand
+    .command('list <path>')
+    .action(listActionHandler);
+
+subCommand
+    .command('delete <path>')
+    .option('-f, --force')
+    .action(deleteActionHandler);
+
+// ... and this is supposedly in the main program ...
+const program = new Command();
+program
+  .option('-q, --quiet');
+  .useSubcommand(subCommand); // forward args, starting with "journal" (subCommand.name()) to this instance
+
+```
+
+Invocation:
+```
+$ node myapp journal list myjournal1 
+$ node myapp -q journal delete myjournal1 -f
+```
+
+Be aware of option handling. In the example above `--force` option directly belongs to the command object passed to action handler (in last param). However, `--quiet` belongs to it's parent! Along with the explicit access you can use `collectAllOptions` - it collects option values from all levels and returns as an object.
+
+```js
+// invoked with "journal --quiet delete xxx --force"
+function deleteActionHandler(path, cmdInstance) {
+  console.log(cmdInstance.force);        // true
+  console.log(cmdInstance.quiet);        // undefined !
+  console.log(cmdInstance.parent.quiet); // true
+  console.log(cmdInstance.collectAllOptions()); // { quiet: true, force: true }
+}
+```
+
 ## Automated --help
 
  The help information is auto-generated based on the information commander already knows about your program, so the following `--help` info is for free:
diff --git a/examples/use-subcommand.js b/examples/use-subcommand.js
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..a26e5b31e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/use-subcommand.js
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+// This is an example of useSubcommand
+// and collectAllOptions
+//
+// try
+//   $ use-subcommand journal list myjounal
+//   $ use-subcommand journal delete myjounal
+// or with options
+//   $ use-subcommand journal -q delete -f myjounal
+
+// const { Command } = require('commander'); << would be in a real program
+const { Command } = require('..');
+
+function importSubCommand() {
+  const journalCmd = new Command()
+    .name('journal')
+    .description('Journal utils');
+
+  journalCmd
+    .command('list <path>')
+    .description('List journal')
+    .action((path, cmdInstance) => {
+      console.log('List journal');
+      console.log('Path is', path);
+      console.log('Quiet =', Boolean(cmdInstance.parent.parent.quiet));
+      // list is a child of journal, which is a child of main cmd
+      console.log('collectAllOptions:', cmdInstance.collectAllOptions());
+    });
+  
+  journalCmd
+    .command('delete <path>')
+    .description('Delete journal')
+    .option('-f, --force')
+    .action((path, cmdInstance) => {
+      console.log('List journal');
+      console.log('Path is', path);
+      console.log('Quiet =', Boolean(cmdInstance.parent.parent.quiet));
+      console.log('Force =', Boolean(cmdInstance.force));
+      console.log('collectAllOptions:', cmdInstance.collectAllOptions());
+    });
+
+  return journalCmd;
+}
+
+// this is supposedly a module, so in real case this would be `require`
+const journalSubCommand = importSubCommand();
+
+const program = new Command();
+program
+  .option('-q, --quiet');
+
+program
+  .command('hello <name>')
+  .description('Greeting')
+  .action((name, cmdInstance) => {
+    console.log(`Hello ${name}!`);
+  });
+
+program
+  .useSubcommand(journalSubCommand);
+
+if (process.argv.length <= 2) {
+  program.help();
+} else {
+  program.parse(process.argv);
+}
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index ce38da26b..4abf5bc90 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1384,6 +1384,69 @@ Command.prototype.help = function(cb) {
   this._exit(process.exitCode || 0, 'commander.help', '(outputHelp)');
 };
 
+/**
+ * Add action-like sub command
+ * command name is taken from name() property - must be defined
+ *
+ * @returns {Command} `this` instance
+ */
+
+Command.prototype.useSubcommand = function(subCommand) {
+  if (this._args.length > 0) throw Error('useSubcommand cannot be applied to a command with explicit args');
+  if (!subCommand._name) throw Error('subCommand name is not specified');
+
+  var listener = function(args, unknown) {
+    // Parse any so-far unknown options
+    args = args || [];
+    unknown = unknown || [];
+
+    var parsed = subCommand.parseOptions(unknown);
+    if (parsed.args.length) args = parsed.args.concat(args);
+    unknown = parsed.unknown;
+
+    // Output help if necessary
+
+    const helpRequested = unknown.includes(subCommand._helpLongFlag) || unknown.includes(subCommand._helpShortFlag);
+    const noFutherValidCommands = args.length === 0 || !subCommand.listeners('command:' + args[0]);
+    const noFurtherCommandsButExpected = args.length === 0 && unknown.length === 0 && subCommand.commands.length > 0;
+    if ((helpRequested && noFutherValidCommands) || noFurtherCommandsButExpected) {
+      subCommand.outputHelp();
+      subCommand._exit(0, 'commander.useSubcommand.listener', `outputHelp(${subCommand._name})`);
+    }
+
+    subCommand.parseArgs(args, unknown);
+  };
+
+  for (const label of [subCommand._name, subCommand._alias]) {
+    if (label) this.on('command:' + label, listener);
+  }
+  this.commands.push(subCommand);
+  subCommand.parent = this;
+  return this;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Returns an object with all options values, including parent options values
+ * This makes it especially useful with useSubcommand as it collects
+ * options from the whole command chain, including parent levels.
+ * beware that subcommand opts enjoy the priority over the parent ones
+ *
+ * @returns {Object} dictionary of option values
+ */
+
+Command.prototype.collectAllOptions = function() {
+  var allOpts = {};
+  var node = this;
+  while (node) {
+    allOpts = node.options
+      .map(o => o.attributeName())
+      .filter(o => typeof node[o] !== 'function')
+      .reduce((r, o) => ({ [o]: node[o], ...r }), allOpts); // deeper opts enjoy the priority
+    node = node.parent;
+  }
+  return allOpts;
+};
+
 /**
  * Camel-case the given `flag`
  *
diff --git a/tests/command.collectAllOptions.test.js b/tests/command.collectAllOptions.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74352e8ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/command.collectAllOptions.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+var { Command } = require('../');
+
+function createCommanderInstance(mockFn) {
+  const subCmd = new Command()
+    .name('sub_cmd')
+    .option('-f, --force');
+  subCmd
+    .command('sub_sub_cmd')
+    .option('-d, --delete')
+    .action(mockFn);
+
+  const root = new Command();
+  root
+    .option('-q, --quiet');
+  root
+    .useSubcommand(subCmd);
+
+  return root;
+}
+
+// TESTS
+
+test('should collect options from all 3 levels when all passed', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'sub_cmd', 'sub_sub_cmd', '-f', '-q', '-d']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('sub_sub_cmd');
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].collectAllOptions()).toEqual({
+    quiet: true,
+    force: true,
+    delete: true
+  });
+});
+
+test('should collect options from all 3 levels when just some passed', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'sub_cmd', 'sub_sub_cmd', '-q']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('sub_sub_cmd');
+
+  const allOpts = actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].collectAllOptions();
+  expect(allOpts).toEqual({
+    quiet: true,
+    force: undefined,
+    delete: undefined
+  });
+  // The attrs are enumerable, just undefined !
+  expect(Object.keys(allOpts).sort()).toEqual(['delete', 'force', 'quiet']);
+});
diff --git a/tests/command.useSubcommand.test.js b/tests/command.useSubcommand.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ab560f659
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/command.useSubcommand.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+var { Command } = require('../');
+
+function createCommanderInstance(mockFn) {
+  const cmd2 = new Command()
+    .name('cmd2');
+  cmd2
+    .command('subCmd')
+    .action(mockFn);
+
+  const cmd3 = new Command()
+    .name('cmd3')
+    .option('-q, --quiet');
+  cmd3
+    .command('subWithOpt')
+    .option('-f, --force')
+    .action(mockFn);
+  cmd3
+    .command('subWithParam <param>')
+    .action(mockFn);
+
+  const root = new Command();
+  root
+    .command('cmd1')
+    .action(mockFn);
+  root
+    .useSubcommand(cmd2)
+    .useSubcommand(cmd3);
+
+  return root;
+}
+
+// TESTS
+
+test('should envoke 1 level command', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd1']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('cmd1');
+});
+
+test('should envoke 2 level sub command', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd2', 'subCmd']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('subCmd');
+});
+
+test('should envoke 2 level sub command with subcommand options', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd3', 'subWithOpt']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('subWithOpt');
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].force).toBeFalsy();
+
+  actionMock.mockReset();
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd3', 'subWithOpt', '-f']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('subWithOpt');
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].force).toBeTruthy();
+});
+
+test('should envoke 2 level sub command with with subcommand param', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd3', 'subWithParam', 'theparam']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(2);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0]).toBe('theparam');
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][1] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][1].name()).toBe('subWithParam');
+});
+
+test('should envoke 2 level sub command with options on several levels', () => {
+  const actionMock = jest.fn();
+  const program = createCommanderInstance(actionMock);
+
+  // -f belongs to subWithOpt, -q belongs to cmd3
+  program.parse(['node', 'test', 'cmd3', 'subWithOpt', '-f', '-q']);
+
+  expect(actionMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0].length).toBe(1);
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0] instanceof Command).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].name()).toBe('subWithOpt');
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].force).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].quiet).toBeUndefined();
+  expect(actionMock.mock.calls[0][0].parent.quiet).toBeTruthy();
+});
diff --git a/typings/index.d.ts b/typings/index.d.ts
index a2fc6a989..286b9bfd2 100644
--- a/typings/index.d.ts
+++ b/typings/index.d.ts
@@ -205,6 +205,24 @@ declare namespace commander {
      */
     parseOptions(argv: string[]): commander.ParseOptionsResult;
 
+    /**
+     * Creates an instance of sub command
+     * 
+     * @returns {Command} which is the subcommand instance
+     */
+
+    useSubcommand(subCommand : Command): Command;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an object with all options values, including parent options values
+     * This makes it especially useful with forwardSubcommands as it collects
+     * options from upper levels too
+     *
+     * @returns {Object} dictionary of option values
+     */
+
+    collectAllOptions(): Object;
+
     /**
      * Return an object containing options as key-value pairs
      *