diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/commands/generate-impl.ts b/packages/angular/cli/commands/generate-impl.ts
index a47dc270f83f..b47808a7e1f9 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/commands/generate-impl.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/commands/generate-impl.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
 
 // tslint:disable:no-global-tslint-disable no-any
 import { terminal } from '@angular-devkit/core';
-import { Arguments, Option } from '../models/interface';
+import { Arguments, SubCommandDescription } from '../models/interface';
 import { SchematicCommand } from '../models/schematic-command';
-import { parseJsonSchemaToOptions } from '../utilities/json-schema';
+import { parseJsonSchemaToSubCommandDescription } from '../utilities/json-schema';
 import { Schema as GenerateCommandSchema } from './generate';
 
 export class GenerateCommand extends SchematicCommand<GenerateCommandSchema> {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export class GenerateCommand extends SchematicCommand<GenerateCommandSchema> {
     const [collectionName, schematicName] = this.parseSchematicInfo(options);
 
     const collection = this.getCollection(collectionName);
-    this.description.suboptions = {};
+    const subcommands: { [name: string]: SubCommandDescription } = {};
 
     const schematicNames = schematicName ? [schematicName] : collection.listSchematicNames();
     // Sort as a courtesy for the user.
@@ -29,24 +29,28 @@ export class GenerateCommand extends SchematicCommand<GenerateCommandSchema> {
 
     for (const name of schematicNames) {
       const schematic = this.getSchematic(collection, name, true);
-      let options: Option[] = [];
+      let subcommand: SubCommandDescription;
       if (schematic.description.schemaJson) {
-        options = await parseJsonSchemaToOptions(
+        subcommand = await parseJsonSchemaToSubCommandDescription(
+          name,
+          schematic.description.path,
           this._workflow.registry,
           schematic.description.schemaJson,
         );
+      } else {
+        continue;
       }
 
       if (this.getDefaultSchematicCollection() == collectionName) {
-        this.description.suboptions[name] = options;
+        subcommands[name] = subcommand;
       } else {
-        this.description.suboptions[`${collectionName}:${name}`] = options;
+        subcommands[`${collectionName}:${name}`] = subcommand;
       }
     }
 
     this.description.options.forEach(option => {
       if (option.name == 'schematic') {
-        option.type = 'suboption';
+        option.subcommands = subcommands;
       }
     });
   }
@@ -86,7 +90,9 @@ export class GenerateCommand extends SchematicCommand<GenerateCommandSchema> {
     await super.printHelp(options);
 
     this.logger.info('');
-    if (Object.keys(this.description.suboptions || {}).length == 1) {
+    // Find the generate subcommand.
+    const subcommand = this.description.options.filter(x => x.subcommands)[0];
+    if (Object.keys((subcommand && subcommand.subcommands) || {}).length == 1) {
       this.logger.info(`\nTo see help for a schematic run:`);
       this.logger.info(terminal.cyan(`  ng generate <schematic> --help`));
     }
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/models/command.ts b/packages/angular/cli/models/command.ts
index 4202d8bd4c6a..14442c4922bb 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/models/command.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/models/command.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   CommandDescriptionMap,
   CommandScope,
   CommandWorkspace,
-  Option,
+  Option, SubCommandDescription,
 } from './interface';
 
 export interface BaseCommandOptions {
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ export abstract class Command<T extends BaseCommandOptions = BaseCommandOptions>
     this.logger.info('');
   }
 
+  protected async printHelpSubcommand(subcommand: SubCommandDescription) {
+    this.logger.info(subcommand.description);
+
+    await this.printHelpOptions(subcommand.options);
+  }
+
   protected async printHelpOptions(options: Option[] = this.description.options) {
     const args = options.filter(opt => opt.positional !== undefined);
     const opts = options.filter(opt => opt.positional === undefined);
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/models/interface.ts b/packages/angular/cli/models/interface.ts
index 0406d1af86cc..261540412d0c 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/models/interface.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/models/interface.ts
@@ -88,13 +88,23 @@ export interface Option {
    * The type of option value. If multiple types exist, this type will be the first one, and the
    * types array will contain all types accepted.
    */
-  type: OptionType | 'suboption';
+  type: OptionType;
 
   /**
    * {@see type}
    */
   types?: OptionType[];
 
+  /**
+   * If this option maps to a subcommand in the parent command, will contain all the subcommands
+   * supported. There is a maximum of 1 subcommand Option per command, and the type of this
+   * option will always be "string" (no other types). The value of this option will map into
+   * this map and return the extra information.
+   */
+  subcommands?: {
+    [name: string]: SubCommandDescription;
+  };
+
   /**
    * Aliases supported by this option.
    */
@@ -143,26 +153,26 @@ export enum CommandScope {
 }
 
 /**
- * A description of a command, its metadata.
+ * A description of a command and its options.
  */
-export interface CommandDescription {
+export interface SubCommandDescription {
   /**
-   * Name of the command.
+   * The name of the subcommand.
    */
   name: string;
 
   /**
-   * Short description (1-2 lines) of this command.
+   * Short description (1-2 lines) of this sub command.
    */
   description: string;
 
   /**
-   * A long description of the option, in Markdown format.
+   * A long description of the sub command, in Markdown format.
    */
   longDescription?: string;
 
   /**
-   * Additional notes about usage of this command.
+   * Additional notes about usage of this sub command, in Markdown format.
    */
   usageNotes?: string;
 
@@ -172,10 +182,15 @@ export interface CommandDescription {
   options: Option[];
 
   /**
-   * Aliases supported for this command.
+   * Aliases supported for this sub command.
    */
   aliases: string[];
+}
 
+/**
+ * A description of a command, its metadata.
+ */
+export interface CommandDescription extends SubCommandDescription {
   /**
    * Scope of the command, whether it can be executed in a project, outside of a project or
    * anywhere.
@@ -191,13 +206,6 @@ export interface CommandDescription {
    * The constructor of the command, which should be extending the abstract Command<> class.
    */
   impl: CommandConstructor;
-
-  /**
-   * Suboptions.
-   */
-  suboptions?: {
-    [name: string]: Option[];
-  };
 }
 
 export interface OptionSmartDefault {
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/models/parser.ts b/packages/angular/cli/models/parser.ts
index 2bf7a89098e0..94f190e75080 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/models/parser.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/models/parser.ts
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ function _coerceType(str: string | undefined, type: OptionType, v?: Value): Valu
 function _coerce(str: string | undefined, o: Option | null, v?: Value): Value | undefined {
   if (!o) {
     return _coerceType(str, OptionType.Any, v);
-  } else if (o.type == 'suboption') {
-    return _coerceType(str, OptionType.String, v);
   } else {
     return _coerceType(str, o.type, v);
   }
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/models/schematic-command.ts b/packages/angular/cli/models/schematic-command.ts
index a9081bf4fc51..d6ebcc96452c 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/models/schematic-command.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/models/schematic-command.ts
@@ -116,46 +116,60 @@ export abstract class SchematicCommand<
     await super.printHelp(options);
     this.logger.info('');
 
-    const schematicNames = Object.keys(this.description.suboptions || {});
+    const subCommandOption = this.description.options.filter(x => x.subcommands)[0];
 
-    if (this.description.suboptions) {
-      if (schematicNames.length > 1) {
-        this.logger.info('Available Schematics:');
+    if (!subCommandOption || !subCommandOption.subcommands) {
+      return 0;
+    }
 
-        const namesPerCollection: { [c: string]: string[] } = {};
-        schematicNames.forEach(name => {
-          const [collectionName, schematicName] = name.split(/:/, 2);
+    const schematicNames = Object.keys(subCommandOption.subcommands);
 
-          if (!namesPerCollection[collectionName]) {
-            namesPerCollection[collectionName] = [];
-          }
+    if (schematicNames.length > 1) {
+      this.logger.info('Available Schematics:');
 
-          namesPerCollection[collectionName].push(schematicName);
-        });
+      const namesPerCollection: { [c: string]: string[] } = {};
+      schematicNames.forEach(name => {
+        let [collectionName, schematicName] = name.split(/:/, 2);
+        if (!schematicName) {
+          schematicName = collectionName;
+          collectionName = this.collectionName;
+        }
 
-        const defaultCollection = this.getDefaultSchematicCollection();
-        Object.keys(namesPerCollection).forEach(collectionName => {
-          const isDefault = defaultCollection == collectionName;
-          this.logger.info(
-            `  Collection "${collectionName}"${isDefault ? ' (default)' : ''}:`,
-          );
+        if (!namesPerCollection[collectionName]) {
+          namesPerCollection[collectionName] = [];
+        }
+
+        namesPerCollection[collectionName].push(schematicName);
+      });
 
-          namesPerCollection[collectionName].forEach(schematicName => {
-            this.logger.info(`    ${schematicName}`);
-          });
+      const defaultCollection = this.getDefaultSchematicCollection();
+      Object.keys(namesPerCollection).forEach(collectionName => {
+        const isDefault = defaultCollection == collectionName;
+        this.logger.info(
+          `  Collection "${collectionName}"${isDefault ? ' (default)' : ''}:`,
+        );
+
+        namesPerCollection[collectionName].forEach(schematicName => {
+          this.logger.info(`    ${schematicName}`);
         });
-      } else if (schematicNames.length == 1) {
-        this.logger.info('Options for schematic ' + schematicNames[0]);
-        await this.printHelpOptions(this.description.suboptions[schematicNames[0]]);
-      }
+      });
+    } else if (schematicNames.length == 1) {
+      this.logger.info('Help for schematic ' + schematicNames[0]);
+      await this.printHelpSubcommand(subCommandOption.subcommands[schematicNames[0]]);
     }
 
     return 0;
   }
 
   async printHelpUsage() {
-    const schematicNames = Object.keys(this.description.suboptions || {});
-    if (this.description.suboptions && schematicNames.length == 1) {
+    const subCommandOption = this.description.options.filter(x => x.subcommands)[0];
+
+    if (!subCommandOption || !subCommandOption.subcommands) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const schematicNames = Object.keys(subCommandOption.subcommands);
+    if (schematicNames.length == 1) {
       this.logger.info(this.description.description);
 
       const opts = this.description.options.filter(x => x.positional === undefined);
@@ -167,7 +181,7 @@ export abstract class SchematicCommand<
         ? schematicName
         : schematicNames[0];
 
-      const schematicOptions = this.description.suboptions[schematicNames[0]];
+      const schematicOptions = subCommandOption.subcommands[schematicNames[0]].options;
       const schematicArgs = schematicOptions.filter(x => x.positional !== undefined);
       const argDisplay = schematicArgs.length > 0
         ? ' ' + schematicArgs.map(a => `<${strings.dasherize(a.name)}>`).join(' ')
diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/utilities/json-schema.ts b/packages/angular/cli/utilities/json-schema.ts
index 990488cca359..8e8ec4cc29b4 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/utilities/json-schema.ts
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/utilities/json-schema.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   CommandDescription,
   CommandScope,
   Option,
-  OptionType,
+  OptionType, SubCommandDescription,
 } from '../models/interface';
 
 function _getEnumFromValue<E, T extends string>(v: json.JsonValue, e: E, d: T): T {
@@ -29,23 +29,12 @@ function _getEnumFromValue<E, T extends string>(v: json.JsonValue, e: E, d: T):
   return d;
 }
 
-export async function parseJsonSchemaToCommandDescription(
+export async function parseJsonSchemaToSubCommandDescription(
   name: string,
   jsonPath: string,
   registry: json.schema.SchemaRegistry,
   schema: json.JsonObject,
-): Promise<CommandDescription> {
-  // Before doing any work, let's validate the implementation.
-  if (typeof schema.$impl != 'string') {
-    throw new Error(`Command ${name} has an invalid implementation.`);
-  }
-  const ref = new ExportStringRef<CommandConstructor>(schema.$impl, dirname(jsonPath));
-  const impl = ref.ref;
-
-  if (impl === undefined || typeof impl !== 'function') {
-    throw new Error(`Command ${name} has an invalid implementation.`);
-  }
-
+): Promise<SubCommandDescription> {
   const options = await parseJsonSchemaToOptions(registry, schema);
 
   const aliases: string[] = [];
@@ -78,20 +67,44 @@ export async function parseJsonSchemaToCommandDescription(
     usageNotes = readFileSync(unPath, 'utf-8');
   }
 
-  const scope = _getEnumFromValue(schema.$scope, CommandScope, CommandScope.Default);
-  const type = _getEnumFromValue(schema.$type, CommandType, CommandType.Default);
   const description = '' + (schema.description === undefined ? '' : schema.description);
-  const hidden = !!schema.$hidden;
 
   return {
     name,
     description,
     ...(longDescription ? { longDescription } : {}),
     ...(usageNotes ? { usageNotes } : {}),
-    hidden,
     options,
     aliases,
+  };
+}
+
+export async function parseJsonSchemaToCommandDescription(
+  name: string,
+  jsonPath: string,
+  registry: json.schema.SchemaRegistry,
+  schema: json.JsonObject,
+): Promise<CommandDescription> {
+  const subcommand = await parseJsonSchemaToSubCommandDescription(name, jsonPath, registry, schema);
+
+  // Before doing any work, let's validate the implementation.
+  if (typeof schema.$impl != 'string') {
+    throw new Error(`Command ${name} has an invalid implementation.`);
+  }
+  const ref = new ExportStringRef<CommandConstructor>(schema.$impl, dirname(jsonPath));
+  const impl = ref.ref;
+
+  if (impl === undefined || typeof impl !== 'function') {
+    throw new Error(`Command ${name} has an invalid implementation.`);
+  }
+
+  const scope = _getEnumFromValue(schema.$scope, CommandScope, CommandScope.Default);
+  const hidden = !!schema.$hidden;
+
+  return {
+    ...subcommand,
     scope,
+    hidden,
     impl,
   };
 }