diff --git a/packages/forms/src/model.ts b/packages/forms/src/model.ts
index d9f28b534a..0497eea645 100644
--- a/packages/forms/src/model.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/src/model.ts
@@ -357,10 +357,18 @@ export abstract class AbstractControl {
 
   /**
    * Marks the control as `pending`.
+   *
+   * An event will be emitted by `statusChanges` by default.
+   *
+   * Passing `false` for `emitEvent` will cause `statusChanges` to not event an event.
    */
-  markAsPending(opts: {onlySelf?: boolean} = {}): void {
+  markAsPending(opts: {onlySelf?: boolean, emitEvent?: boolean} = {}): void {
     (this as{status: string}).status = PENDING;
 
+    if (opts.emitEvent !== false) {
+      (this.statusChanges as EventEmitter<any>).emit(this.status);
+    }
+
     if (this._parent && !opts.onlySelf) {
       this._parent.markAsPending(opts);
     }
diff --git a/packages/forms/test/form_array_spec.ts b/packages/forms/test/form_array_spec.ts
index e90ebd7986..e0a7f5f9d0 100644
--- a/packages/forms/test/form_array_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/test/form_array_spec.ts
@@ -622,6 +622,36 @@ import {of } from 'rxjs/observable/of';
         expect(c.pending).toEqual(true);
         expect(a.pending).toEqual(false);
       });
+
+      describe('status change events', () => {
+        let logger: string[];
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          logger = [];
+          a.statusChanges.subscribe((status) => logger.push(status));
+        });
+
+        it('should emit event after marking control as pending', () => {
+          c.markAsPending();
+          expect(logger).toEqual(['PENDING']);
+        });
+
+        it('should not emit event from parent when onlySelf is true', () => {
+          c.markAsPending({onlySelf: true});
+          expect(logger).toEqual([]);
+        });
+
+        it('should not emit event when emitEvent = false', () => {
+          c.markAsPending({emitEvent: false});
+          expect(logger).toEqual([]);
+        });
+
+        it('should emit event when parent is markedAsPending', () => {
+          a.markAsPending();
+          expect(logger).toEqual(['PENDING']);
+        });
+      });
+
     });
 
     describe('valueChanges', () => {
diff --git a/packages/forms/test/form_control_spec.ts b/packages/forms/test/form_control_spec.ts
index 3254b3cbe9..2bc06e1171 100644
--- a/packages/forms/test/form_control_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/test/form_control_spec.ts
@@ -1161,5 +1161,37 @@ import {FormArray} from '@angular/forms/src/model';
 
       });
     });
+    describe('pending', () => {
+      let c: FormControl;
+
+      beforeEach(() => { c = new FormControl('value'); });
+
+      it('should be false after creating a control', () => { expect(c.pending).toEqual(false); });
+
+      it('should be true after changing the value of the control', () => {
+        c.markAsPending();
+        expect(c.pending).toEqual(true);
+      });
+
+      describe('status change events', () => {
+        let logger: string[];
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          logger = [];
+          c.statusChanges.subscribe((status) => logger.push(status));
+        });
+
+        it('should emit event after marking control as pending', () => {
+          c.markAsPending();
+          expect(logger).toEqual(['PENDING']);
+        });
+
+        it('should not emit event when emitEvent = false', () => {
+          c.markAsPending({emitEvent: false});
+          expect(logger).toEqual([]);
+        });
+
+      });
+    });
   });
 })();
diff --git a/packages/forms/test/form_group_spec.ts b/packages/forms/test/form_group_spec.ts
index 3038464ede..d65bf2d8c2 100644
--- a/packages/forms/test/form_group_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/forms/test/form_group_spec.ts
@@ -1146,6 +1146,56 @@ import {of } from 'rxjs/observable/of';
 
     });
 
+    describe('pending', () => {
+      let c: FormControl;
+      let g: FormGroup;
+
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        c = new FormControl('value');
+        g = new FormGroup({'one': c});
+      });
+
+      it('should be false after creating a control', () => { expect(g.pending).toEqual(false); });
+
+      it('should be true after changing the value of the control', () => {
+        c.markAsPending();
+        expect(g.pending).toEqual(true);
+      });
+
+      it('should not update the parent when onlySelf = true', () => {
+        c.markAsPending({onlySelf: true});
+        expect(g.pending).toEqual(false);
+      });
+
+      describe('status change events', () => {
+        let logger: string[];
+
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          logger = [];
+          g.statusChanges.subscribe((status) => logger.push(status));
+        });
+
+        it('should emit event after marking control as pending', () => {
+          c.markAsPending();
+          expect(logger).toEqual(['PENDING']);
+        });
+
+        it('should not emit event when onlySelf = true', () => {
+          c.markAsPending({onlySelf: true});
+          expect(logger).toEqual([]);
+        });
+
+        it('should not emit event when emitEvent = false', () => {
+          c.markAsPending({emitEvent: false});
+          expect(logger).toEqual([]);
+        });
+
+        it('should emit event when parent is markedAsPending', () => {
+          g.markAsPending();
+          expect(logger).toEqual(['PENDING']);
+        });
+      });
+    });
 
   });
 })();
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/forms/forms.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/forms/forms.d.ts
index d7f3036d3e..a718a14a68 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/forms/forms.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/forms/forms.d.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export declare abstract class AbstractControl {
     }): void;
     markAsPending(opts?: {
         onlySelf?: boolean;
+        emitEvent?: boolean;
     }): void;
     markAsPristine(opts?: {
         onlySelf?: boolean;