To be good at maths?

[Justtoobad]

May I ask...are the two fundamental principles of numeracy - place value and multiplications?

I don't know what a fundamental principle of numeracy is, but all arithmetic, not just multiplication plays a part.

How would you describe/explain the basis of arithmetic if you had to break it down?

If for literacy/English it's clause/verb/subject/adjective?

The four operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

What are you asking for?

What an odd half-question. Care to elaborate?
In my mind, to be good at maths, you need to be able to apply what you know to different situations and problems. The basis is an understanding of numbers and how they interact. Which would include operations, inverse operations, place value etc.
I think the new curriculum seems to have a heavy bias towards algebra.

As a comparator to your literacy example, I'd agree with noblegiraffe - +-x/

You certainly need fluency in number bonds, mental arithmetic and place value if you are not to struggle with maths.

To be good at maths you also need to be good at thinking logically. Knowing what you've got, seeing where you need to be and putting together the steps you need to get there.

Are you a secondary maths teacher, or an academic with an interest in maths?
Do you struggle with explaining things intelligibly to an audience?
I think you mean the two basics required to become a good mathematician are an understanding of place value and multiplication and are asking if we agree.
I do agree in principle, but you can know your tables without understanding them.

Sorry that my brain doesn't explain its self very well, I was just wondering about the language of maths. Thanks lots for your input