My Nikon D40 won't take close up pictures with a 18-55mm lens?

It won't take close up pictures it just focuses on the background not the foreground. I'm currently using a 18-55 mm lens. I don't know if it's a setting I put it on or that the lens is broken- It's been broken in the past and I had to pay to have it fixed.

It's because you need a macro lens to take close ups. What you have is a standard kit lens.

Every lens has a minimum focus distance. If you are trying to focus on something too close, the camera will not be able to focus properly.

Nothing is broken

Have looked at the closest focus focus your 18-55 mm lens supports?

My guess is you are trying to focus closer than the design characteristics of your lens, 0.9ft.(0.28m).

To focus closer than that you will need to buy a macro lens like the AF-S 60 mm f/2.8 or add an extension tube

Remember to put the command dial on macro mode.

As Ryan says… Did you remember to put the command dial on "macro mode"

or if the subject is really close, choose the "super macro mode" ;-\

The kit lens you're using has a minimum focus distance of 11 inches as measured from the subject to the sensor plane (fairly close to the back of the camera). If you're any closer than 11 inches, the camera will not focus on your subject and may end up focusing on the background. At 11 inches and zoomed all the way in, you can get pretty good close up shots of flowers, bugs, jewelery, …

I find it handy to put the camera in single area focus mode (see page 24 in your manual) and select the appropriate focus area (usually the center) (see page 25). Pre focus on your subject by pressing the shutter release half way, compose, then take the shot (see page 17 and 26).

It's because the lens is not for close up. Get a Micro lens like the Nikkor 65mm, 85mm, or 105mm.
The MACRO dial is fancy. It can't make your camera to get close-up (macro) shots.