Sewing machine problem?

i have a beginner singer sewing machine. im wanting to change the width around just to experiment a little but whenever i change it to any other setting other than 0 it moves far over across the needle plate past the part were the needle goes into the machine. i dont want to try it like that because im worried the second i do the needle is going to come straight down on the needle plate and break the needle or my machine. is the needle suppose to go over that far or is there something wrong with my machine? thanks for any ones help =)