Brenda,
The correct way to change gears on a manual car is to depress the clutch fully (that is until the clutch goes right down on the floor) and then putting the gear that you want. In some cars, you need to press the gear down to get it in reverse, otherwise it won't reverse. For standard cars, it's just a matter of selecting the reverse gear. Check your car manual to be sure of how to apply the reverse gear properly. If you're doing the right thing, then maybe you should contact your local mechanic to see if there's anything wrong with your geabox, it might be jammed.
