Can we not move files?

[Steven M. Sawczyn]

Is there a way to move files from one place to another on the Mac?   
OK, I see in the help this is possible to do while dragging and  
holding down option, or something like that, but how do we do this?   
I've tried dragging folders from my documents folder to my desktop and  
it never works.  Cut is always dimmed under edit.  I've been copying  
and pasting, but there's got to be a way to just move something hasn't  
there?

Thanks,
Steve