diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/output/output_ast.ts b/packages/compiler/src/output/output_ast.ts
index f718565ce3..c0e06637f0 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/output/output_ast.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/output/output_ast.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 import {ParseSourceSpan} from '../parse_util';
 import {I18nMeta} from '../render3/view/i18n/meta';
-import {error} from '../util';
 
 //// Types
 export enum TypeModifier {
@@ -516,11 +515,16 @@ export class LiteralExpr extends Expression {
   }
 }
 
+export abstract class MessagePiece {
+  constructor(public text: string, public sourceSpan: ParseSourceSpan) {}
+}
+export class LiteralPiece extends MessagePiece {}
+export class PlaceholderPiece extends MessagePiece {}
 
 export class LocalizedString extends Expression {
   constructor(
-      readonly metaBlock: I18nMeta, readonly messageParts: string[],
-      readonly placeHolderNames: string[], readonly expressions: Expression[],
+      readonly metaBlock: I18nMeta, readonly messageParts: LiteralPiece[],
+      readonly placeHolderNames: PlaceholderPiece[], readonly expressions: Expression[],
       sourceSpan?: ParseSourceSpan|null) {
     super(STRING_TYPE, sourceSpan);
   }
@@ -563,7 +567,16 @@ export class LocalizedString extends Expression {
         metaBlock = `${metaBlock}${LEGACY_ID_INDICATOR}${legacyId}`;
       });
     }
-    return createCookedRawString(metaBlock, this.messageParts[0]);
+    return createCookedRawString(metaBlock, this.messageParts[0].text);
+  }
+
+  getMessagePartSourceSpan(i: number): ParseSourceSpan|null {
+    return this.messageParts[i]?.sourceSpan ?? this.sourceSpan;
+  }
+
+  getPlaceholderSourceSpan(i: number): ParseSourceSpan {
+    return this.placeHolderNames[i]?.sourceSpan ?? this.expressions[i]?.sourceSpan ??
+        this.sourceSpan;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -574,9 +587,9 @@ export class LocalizedString extends Expression {
    * @param messagePart The following message string after this placeholder
    */
   serializeI18nTemplatePart(partIndex: number): {cooked: string, raw: string} {
-    const placeholderName = this.placeHolderNames[partIndex - 1];
+    const placeholderName = this.placeHolderNames[partIndex - 1].text;
     const messagePart = this.messageParts[partIndex];
-    return createCookedRawString(placeholderName, messagePart);
+    return createCookedRawString(placeholderName, messagePart.text);
   }
 }
 
@@ -1799,7 +1812,7 @@ export function literal(
 }
 
 export function localizedString(
-    metaBlock: I18nMeta, messageParts: string[], placeholderNames: string[],
+    metaBlock: I18nMeta, messageParts: LiteralPiece[], placeholderNames: PlaceholderPiece[],
     expressions: Expression[], sourceSpan?: ParseSourceSpan|null): LocalizedString {
   return new LocalizedString(metaBlock, messageParts, placeholderNames, expressions, sourceSpan);
 }
diff --git a/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/i18n/localize_utils.ts b/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/i18n/localize_utils.ts
index 127a3f6d94..4c4f29eff2 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/i18n/localize_utils.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/src/render3/view/i18n/localize_utils.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 import * as i18n from '../../../i18n/i18n_ast';
 import * as o from '../../../output/output_ast';
-import {ParseSourceSpan} from '../../../parse_util';
+import {ParseLocation, ParseSourceSpan} from '../../../parse_util';
 
 import {serializeIcuNode} from './icu_serializer';
 import {formatI18nPlaceholderName} from './util';
@@ -17,60 +17,55 @@ export function createLocalizeStatements(
     params: {[name: string]: o.Expression}): o.Statement[] {
   const {messageParts, placeHolders} = serializeI18nMessageForLocalize(message);
   const sourceSpan = getSourceSpan(message);
-  const expressions = placeHolders.map(ph => params[ph]);
+  const expressions = placeHolders.map(ph => params[ph.text]);
   const localizedString =
       o.localizedString(message, messageParts, placeHolders, expressions, sourceSpan);
   const variableInitialization = variable.set(localizedString);
   return [new o.ExpressionStatement(variableInitialization)];
 }
 
-class MessagePiece {
-  constructor(public text: string) {}
-}
-class LiteralPiece extends MessagePiece {}
-class PlaceholderPiece extends MessagePiece {
-  constructor(name: string) {
-    super(formatI18nPlaceholderName(name, /* useCamelCase */ false));
-  }
-}
-
 /**
  * This visitor walks over an i18n tree, capturing literal strings and placeholders.
  *
  * The result can be used for generating the `$localize` tagged template literals.
  */
 class LocalizeSerializerVisitor implements i18n.Visitor {
-  visitText(text: i18n.Text, context: MessagePiece[]): any {
-    if (context[context.length - 1] instanceof LiteralPiece) {
+  visitText(text: i18n.Text, context: o.MessagePiece[]): any {
+    if (context[context.length - 1] instanceof o.LiteralPiece) {
       // Two literal pieces in a row means that there was some comment node in-between.
       context[context.length - 1].text += text.value;
     } else {
-      context.push(new LiteralPiece(text.value));
+      context.push(new o.LiteralPiece(text.value, text.sourceSpan));
     }
   }
 
-  visitContainer(container: i18n.Container, context: MessagePiece[]): any {
+  visitContainer(container: i18n.Container, context: o.MessagePiece[]): any {
     container.children.forEach(child => child.visit(this, context));
   }
 
-  visitIcu(icu: i18n.Icu, context: MessagePiece[]): any {
-    context.push(new LiteralPiece(serializeIcuNode(icu)));
+  visitIcu(icu: i18n.Icu, context: o.MessagePiece[]): any {
+    context.push(new o.LiteralPiece(serializeIcuNode(icu), icu.sourceSpan));
   }
 
-  visitTagPlaceholder(ph: i18n.TagPlaceholder, context: MessagePiece[]): any {
-    context.push(new PlaceholderPiece(ph.startName));
+  visitTagPlaceholder(ph: i18n.TagPlaceholder, context: o.MessagePiece[]): any {
+    context.push(this.createPlaceholderPiece(ph.startName, ph.sourceSpan));
     if (!ph.isVoid) {
       ph.children.forEach(child => child.visit(this, context));
-      context.push(new PlaceholderPiece(ph.closeName));
+      context.push(this.createPlaceholderPiece(ph.closeName, ph.closeSourceSpan ?? ph.sourceSpan));
     }
   }
 
-  visitPlaceholder(ph: i18n.Placeholder, context: MessagePiece[]): any {
-    context.push(new PlaceholderPiece(ph.name));
+  visitPlaceholder(ph: i18n.Placeholder, context: o.MessagePiece[]): any {
+    context.push(this.createPlaceholderPiece(ph.name, ph.sourceSpan));
   }
 
   visitIcuPlaceholder(ph: i18n.IcuPlaceholder, context?: any): any {
-    context.push(new PlaceholderPiece(ph.name));
+    context.push(this.createPlaceholderPiece(ph.name, ph.sourceSpan));
+  }
+
+  private createPlaceholderPiece(name: string, sourceSpan: ParseSourceSpan): o.PlaceholderPiece {
+    return new o.PlaceholderPiece(
+        formatI18nPlaceholderName(name, /* useCamelCase */ false), sourceSpan);
   }
 }
 
@@ -85,8 +80,8 @@ const serializerVisitor = new LocalizeSerializerVisitor();
  * @returns an object containing the messageParts and placeholders.
  */
 export function serializeI18nMessageForLocalize(message: i18n.Message):
-    {messageParts: string[], placeHolders: string[]} {
-  const pieces: MessagePiece[] = [];
+    {messageParts: o.LiteralPiece[], placeHolders: o.PlaceholderPiece[]} {
+  const pieces: o.MessagePiece[] = [];
   message.nodes.forEach(node => node.visit(serializerVisitor, pieces));
   return processMessagePieces(pieces);
 }
@@ -107,31 +102,35 @@ function getSourceSpan(message: i18n.Message): ParseSourceSpan {
  * @param pieces The pieces to process.
  * @returns an object containing the messageParts and placeholders.
  */
-function processMessagePieces(pieces: MessagePiece[]):
-    {messageParts: string[], placeHolders: string[]} {
-  const messageParts: string[] = [];
-  const placeHolders: string[] = [];
+function processMessagePieces(pieces: o.MessagePiece[]):
+    {messageParts: o.LiteralPiece[], placeHolders: o.PlaceholderPiece[]} {
+  const messageParts: o.LiteralPiece[] = [];
+  const placeHolders: o.PlaceholderPiece[] = [];
 
-  if (pieces[0] instanceof PlaceholderPiece) {
+  if (pieces[0] instanceof o.PlaceholderPiece) {
     // The first piece was a placeholder so we need to add an initial empty message part.
-    messageParts.push('');
+    messageParts.push(createEmptyMessagePart(pieces[0].sourceSpan.start));
   }
 
   for (let i = 0; i < pieces.length; i++) {
     const part = pieces[i];
-    if (part instanceof LiteralPiece) {
-      messageParts.push(part.text);
+    if (part instanceof o.LiteralPiece) {
+      messageParts.push(part);
     } else {
-      placeHolders.push(part.text);
-      if (pieces[i - 1] instanceof PlaceholderPiece) {
+      placeHolders.push(part);
+      if (pieces[i - 1] instanceof o.PlaceholderPiece) {
         // There were two placeholders in a row, so we need to add an empty message part.
-        messageParts.push('');
+        messageParts.push(createEmptyMessagePart(part.sourceSpan.end));
       }
     }
   }
-  if (pieces[pieces.length - 1] instanceof PlaceholderPiece) {
+  if (pieces[pieces.length - 1] instanceof o.PlaceholderPiece) {
     // The last piece was a placeholder so we need to add a final empty message part.
-    messageParts.push('');
+    messageParts.push(createEmptyMessagePart(pieces[pieces.length - 1].sourceSpan.end));
   }
   return {messageParts, placeHolders};
 }
+
+function createEmptyMessagePart(location: ParseLocation): o.LiteralPiece {
+  return new o.LiteralPiece('', new ParseSourceSpan(location, location));
+}
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/output/js_emitter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/output/js_emitter_spec.ts
index c21297c4ee..b6ff7deab5 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/output/js_emitter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/output/js_emitter_spec.ts
@@ -205,9 +205,12 @@ const externalModuleIdentifier = new o.ExternalReference(anotherModuleUrl, 'some
     });
 
     it('should support ES5 localized strings', () => {
-      expect(emitStmt(new o.ExpressionStatement(o.localizedString(
-                 {}, ['ab\\:c', 'd"e\'f'], ['ph1'],
-                 [o.literal(7, o.NUMBER_TYPE).plus(o.literal(8, o.NUMBER_TYPE))]))))
+      const messageParts =
+          [new o.LiteralPiece('ab\\:c', {} as any), new o.LiteralPiece('d"e\'f', {} as any)];
+      const placeholders = [new o.PlaceholderPiece('ph1', {} as any)];
+      const expressions = [o.literal(7, o.NUMBER_TYPE).plus(o.literal(8, o.NUMBER_TYPE))];
+      const localizedString = o.localizedString({}, messageParts, placeholders, expressions);
+      expect(emitStmt(new o.ExpressionStatement(localizedString)))
           .toEqual(
               String.raw
               `$localize((this&&this.__makeTemplateObject||function(e,t){return Object.defineProperty?Object.defineProperty(e,"raw",{value:t}):e.raw=t,e})(['ab\\:c', ':ph1:d"e\'f'], ['ab\\\\:c', ':ph1:d"e\'f']), (7 + 8));`);
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/output/ts_emitter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/output/ts_emitter_spec.ts
index 78da4b697f..e20b136f38 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/output/ts_emitter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/output/ts_emitter_spec.ts
@@ -254,9 +254,12 @@ const externalModuleIdentifier = new o.ExternalReference(anotherModuleUrl, 'some
     });
 
     it('should support localized strings', () => {
-      expect(emitStmt(new o.ExpressionStatement(o.localizedString(
-                 {}, ['ab\\:c', 'd"e\'f'], ['ph1'],
-                 [o.literal(7, o.NUMBER_TYPE).plus(o.literal(8, o.NUMBER_TYPE))]))))
+      const messageParts =
+          [new o.LiteralPiece('ab\\:c', {} as any), new o.LiteralPiece('d"e\'f', {} as any)];
+      const placeholders = [new o.PlaceholderPiece('ph1', {} as any)];
+      const expressions = [o.literal(7, o.NUMBER_TYPE).plus(o.literal(8, o.NUMBER_TYPE))];
+      const localizedString = o.localizedString({}, messageParts, placeholders, expressions);
+      expect(emitStmt(new o.ExpressionStatement(localizedString)))
           .toEqual('$localize `ab\\\\:c${(7 + 8)}:ph1:d"e\'f`;');
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler/test/render3/view/i18n_spec.ts b/packages/compiler/test/render3/view/i18n_spec.ts
index 328cb7b7f3..50d534c64e 100644
--- a/packages/compiler/test/render3/view/i18n_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler/test/render3/view/i18n_spec.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {Lexer} from '../../../src/expression_parser/lexer';
 import {Parser} from '../../../src/expression_parser/parser';
 import * as i18n from '../../../src/i18n/i18n_ast';
 import * as o from '../../../src/output/output_ast';
+import {ParseSourceSpan} from '../../../src/parse_util';
 import * as t from '../../../src/render3/r3_ast';
 import {I18nContext} from '../../../src/render3/view/i18n/context';
 import {serializeI18nMessageForGetMsg} from '../../../src/render3/view/i18n/get_msg_utils';
@@ -221,64 +222,75 @@ describe('Utils', () => {
     });
 
     it('serializeI18nHead()', () => {
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta(), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta(), [literal('')], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: '', raw: ''});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', 'desc'), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':desc:', raw: ':desc:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', '', 'desc'), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', '', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':desc@@id:', raw: ':desc@@id:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', 'meaning', 'desc'), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(
+          o.localizedString(meta('', 'meaning', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':meaning|desc:', raw: ':meaning|desc:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], [])
+                 .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':meaning|desc@@id:', raw: ':meaning|desc@@id:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', '', ''), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', '', ''), [literal('')], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':@@id:', raw: ':@@id:'});
 
       // Escaping colons (block markers)
-      expect(
-          o.localizedString(meta('id:sub_id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [''], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id:sub_id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], [])
+                 .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':meaning|desc@@id:sub_id:', raw: ':meaning|desc@@id\\:sub_id:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning:sub_meaning', 'desc'), [''], [], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning:sub_meaning', 'desc'), [literal('')], [], [])
                  .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual(
               {cooked: ':meaning:sub_meaning|desc@@id:', raw: ':meaning\\:sub_meaning|desc@@id:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc:sub_desc'), [''], [], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc:sub_desc'), [literal('')], [], [])
                  .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':meaning|desc:sub_desc@@id:', raw: ':meaning|desc\\:sub_desc@@id:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), ['message source'], [], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [literal('message source')], [], [])
                  .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({
             cooked: ':meaning|desc@@id:message source',
             raw: ':meaning|desc@@id:message source'
           });
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [':message source'], [], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('id', 'meaning', 'desc'), [literal(':message source')], [], [])
                  .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({
             cooked: ':meaning|desc@@id::message source',
             raw: ':meaning|desc@@id::message source'
           });
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['message source'], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [literal('message source')], [], [])
+                 .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: 'message source', raw: 'message source'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [':message source'], [], []).serializeI18nHead())
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [literal(':message source')], [], [])
+                 .serializeI18nHead())
           .toEqual({cooked: ':message source', raw: '\\:message source'});
     });
 
     it('serializeI18nPlaceholderBlock()', () => {
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', ''], [''], []).serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
-          .toEqual({cooked: '', raw: ''});
-      expect(
-          o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', ''], ['abc'], []).serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
-          .toEqual({cooked: ':abc:', raw: ':abc:'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', 'message'], [''], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal('')], [literal('')], [])
                  .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
+          .toEqual({cooked: '', raw: ''});
+      expect(o.localizedString(
+                  meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal('')],
+                  [new o.LiteralPiece('abc', {} as any)], [])
+                 .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
+          .toEqual({cooked: ':abc:', raw: ':abc:'});
+      expect(
+          o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal('message')], [literal('')], [])
+              .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
           .toEqual({cooked: 'message', raw: 'message'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', 'message'], ['abc'], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(
+                  meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal('message')], [literal('abc')], [])
                  .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
           .toEqual({cooked: ':abc:message', raw: ':abc:message'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', ':message'], [''], [])
-                 .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
+      expect(
+          o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal(':message')], [literal('')], [])
+              .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
           .toEqual({cooked: ':message', raw: '\\:message'});
-      expect(o.localizedString(meta('', '', ''), ['', ':message'], ['abc'], [])
+      expect(o.localizedString(
+                  meta('', '', ''), [literal(''), literal(':message')], [literal('abc')], [])
                  .serializeI18nTemplatePart(1))
           .toEqual({cooked: ':abc::message', raw: ':abc::message'});
     });
@@ -349,55 +361,106 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
   };
 
   it('should serialize plain text for `$localize()`', () => {
-    expect(serialize('Some text')).toEqual({messageParts: ['Some text'], placeHolders: []});
+    expect(serialize('Some text'))
+        .toEqual({messageParts: [literal('Some text')], placeHolders: []});
   });
 
   it('should serialize text with interpolation for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('Some text {{ valueA }} and {{ valueB + valueC }} done')).toEqual({
-      messageParts: ['Some text ', ' and ', ' done'],
-      placeHolders: ['INTERPOLATION', 'INTERPOLATION_1']
+      messageParts: [literal('Some text '), literal(' and '), literal(' done')],
+      placeHolders: [placeholder('INTERPOLATION'), placeholder('INTERPOLATION_1')],
     });
   });
 
+  it('should compute source-spans when serializing text with interpolation for `$localize()`',
+     () => {
+       const {messageParts, placeHolders} =
+           serialize('Some text {{ valueA }} and {{ valueB + valueC }} done');
+
+       expect(messageParts[0].text).toEqual('Some text ');
+       expect(messageParts[0].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('Some text ');
+       expect(messageParts[1].text).toEqual(' and ');
+       expect(messageParts[1].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual(' and ');
+       expect(messageParts[2].text).toEqual(' done');
+       expect(messageParts[2].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual(' done');
+
+       expect(placeHolders[0].text).toEqual('INTERPOLATION');
+       expect(placeHolders[0].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('{{ valueA }}');
+       expect(placeHolders[1].text).toEqual('INTERPOLATION_1');
+       expect(placeHolders[1].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('{{ valueB + valueC }}');
+     });
+
   it('should serialize text with interpolation at start for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('{{ valueA }} and {{ valueB + valueC }} done')).toEqual({
-      messageParts: ['', ' and ', ' done'],
-      placeHolders: ['INTERPOLATION', 'INTERPOLATION_1']
+      messageParts: [literal(''), literal(' and '), literal(' done')],
+      placeHolders: [placeholder('INTERPOLATION'), placeholder('INTERPOLATION_1')],
     });
   });
 
 
   it('should serialize text with interpolation at end for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('Some text {{ valueA }} and {{ valueB + valueC }}')).toEqual({
-      messageParts: ['Some text ', ' and ', ''],
-      placeHolders: ['INTERPOLATION', 'INTERPOLATION_1']
+      messageParts: [literal('Some text '), literal(' and '), literal('')],
+      placeHolders: [placeholder('INTERPOLATION'), placeholder('INTERPOLATION_1')],
     });
   });
 
 
   it('should serialize only interpolation for `$localize()`', () => {
-    expect(serialize('{{ valueB + valueC }}'))
-        .toEqual({messageParts: ['', ''], placeHolders: ['INTERPOLATION']});
+    expect(serialize('{{ valueB + valueC }}')).toEqual({
+      messageParts: [literal(''), literal('')],
+      placeHolders: [placeholder('INTERPOLATION')]
+    });
   });
 
 
   it('should serialize interpolation with named placeholder for `$localize()`', () => {
-    expect(serialize('{{ valueB + valueC // i18n(ph="PLACEHOLDER NAME") }}'))
-        .toEqual({messageParts: ['', ''], placeHolders: ['PLACEHOLDER_NAME']});
+    expect(serialize('{{ valueB + valueC // i18n(ph="PLACEHOLDER NAME") }}')).toEqual({
+      messageParts: [literal(''), literal('')],
+      placeHolders: [placeholder('PLACEHOLDER_NAME')]
+    });
   });
 
 
   it('should serialize content with HTML tags for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('A <span>B<div>C</div></span> D')).toEqual({
-      messageParts: ['A ', 'B', 'C', '', ' D'],
-      placeHolders: ['START_TAG_SPAN', 'START_TAG_DIV', 'CLOSE_TAG_DIV', 'CLOSE_TAG_SPAN']
+      messageParts: [literal('A '), literal('B'), literal('C'), literal(''), literal(' D')],
+      placeHolders: [
+        placeholder('START_TAG_SPAN'), placeholder('START_TAG_DIV'), placeholder('CLOSE_TAG_DIV'),
+        placeholder('CLOSE_TAG_SPAN')
+      ]
     });
   });
 
 
+  it('should compute source-spans when serializing content with HTML tags for `$localize()`',
+     () => {
+       const {messageParts, placeHolders} = serialize('A <span>B<div>C</div></span> D');
+
+       expect(messageParts[0].text).toEqual('A ');
+       expect(messageParts[0].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('A ');
+       expect(messageParts[1].text).toEqual('B');
+       expect(messageParts[1].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('B');
+       expect(messageParts[2].text).toEqual('C');
+       expect(messageParts[2].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('C');
+       expect(messageParts[3].text).toEqual('');
+       expect(messageParts[3].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('');
+       expect(messageParts[4].text).toEqual(' D');
+       expect(messageParts[4].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual(' D');
+
+       expect(placeHolders[0].text).toEqual('START_TAG_SPAN');
+       expect(placeHolders[0].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('<span>');
+       expect(placeHolders[1].text).toEqual('START_TAG_DIV');
+       expect(placeHolders[1].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('<div>');
+       expect(placeHolders[2].text).toEqual('CLOSE_TAG_DIV');
+       expect(placeHolders[2].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('</div>');
+       expect(placeHolders[3].text).toEqual('CLOSE_TAG_SPAN');
+       expect(placeHolders[3].sourceSpan.toString()).toEqual('</span>');
+     });
+
   it('should serialize simple ICU for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('{age, plural, 10 {ten} other {other}}')).toEqual({
-      messageParts: ['{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten} other {other}}'],
+      messageParts: [literal('{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten} other {other}}')],
       placeHolders: []
     });
   });
@@ -408,7 +471,8 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
                '{age, plural, 10 {ten {size, select, 1 {one} 2 {two} other {2+}}} other {other}}'))
         .toEqual({
           messageParts: [
-            '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten {VAR_SELECT, select, 1 {one} 2 {two} other {2+}}} other {other}}'
+            literal(
+                '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten {VAR_SELECT, select, 1 {one} 2 {two} other {2+}}} other {other}}')
           ],
           placeHolders: []
         });
@@ -418,7 +482,8 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
   it('should serialize ICU with embedded HTML for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('{age, plural, 10 {<b>ten</b>} other {<div class="A">other</div>}}')).toEqual({
       messageParts: [
-        '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {{START_BOLD_TEXT}ten{CLOSE_BOLD_TEXT}} other {{START_TAG_DIV}other{CLOSE_TAG_DIV}}}'
+        literal(
+            '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {{START_BOLD_TEXT}ten{CLOSE_BOLD_TEXT}} other {{START_TAG_DIV}other{CLOSE_TAG_DIV}}}')
       ],
       placeHolders: []
     });
@@ -427,7 +492,8 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
   it('should serialize ICU with embedded interpolation for `$localize()`', () => {
     expect(serialize('{age, plural, 10 {<b>ten</b>} other {{{age}} years old}}')).toEqual({
       messageParts: [
-        '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {{START_BOLD_TEXT}ten{CLOSE_BOLD_TEXT}} other {{INTERPOLATION} years old}}'
+        literal(
+            '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {{START_BOLD_TEXT}ten{CLOSE_BOLD_TEXT}} other {{INTERPOLATION} years old}}')
       ],
       placeHolders: []
     });
@@ -438,8 +504,11 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
         serialize(
             '{gender, select, male {male} female {female} other {other}}<div>{gender, select, male {male} female {female} other {other}}</div>'))
         .toEqual({
-          messageParts: ['', '', '', '', ''],
-          placeHolders: ['ICU', 'START_TAG_DIV', 'ICU', 'CLOSE_TAG_DIV']
+          messageParts: [literal(''), literal(''), literal(''), literal(''), literal('')],
+          placeHolders: [
+            placeholder('ICU'), placeholder('START_TAG_DIV'), placeholder('ICU'),
+            placeholder('CLOSE_TAG_DIV')
+          ]
         });
   });
 
@@ -449,7 +518,8 @@ describe('serializeI18nMessageForLocalize', () => {
             '{age, plural, 10 {ten {size, select, 1 {{{ varOne }}} 2 {{{ varTwo }}} other {2+}}} other {other}}'))
         .toEqual({
           messageParts: [
-            '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten {VAR_SELECT, select, 1 {{INTERPOLATION}} 2 {{INTERPOLATION_1}} other {2+}}} other {other}}'
+            literal(
+                '{VAR_PLURAL, plural, 10 {ten {VAR_SELECT, select, 1 {{INTERPOLATION}} 2 {{INTERPOLATION_1}} other {2+}}} other {other}}')
           ],
           placeHolders: []
         });
@@ -486,3 +556,11 @@ describe('serializeIcuNode', () => {
         .toEqual('{VAR_SELECT, select, 10 {ten} other {{INTERPOLATION} years old}}');
   });
 });
+
+function literal(text: string, span: any = jasmine.any(ParseSourceSpan)): o.LiteralPiece {
+  return new o.LiteralPiece(text, span);
+}
+
+function placeholder(name: string, span: any = jasmine.any(ParseSourceSpan)): o.PlaceholderPiece {
+  return new o.PlaceholderPiece(name, span);
+}