Problem with pasting text/files

Hi, I have just started using a macbook air, it has the latest version of mountain lion but I have a problem with copy and paste. it lets me copy text and files, but when I go to paste said text or file in another folder, I get no response accept a bong sound. Voice over says that said text or file has been copied when I press command C, but is there something I'm missing when I press command V to paste? Is there a certain setting I need to go and fiddle with? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.