It's important not to exceed the capacity of your bread machine pan. Use only recipes with the appropriate quantities of ingredients for your machine, or adjust the amounts accordingly. It's also very important that you measure ingredients correctly. Even a teaspoon more or less of water could make a difference. Once you have those basics, you can add any number of other ingredients to make a great variety of breads.
Yeast is a living organism with a finite life expectancy.
It's also very sensitive. Add 2 teaspoons of sugar, stir to dissolve, and then sprinkle 1 teaspoon of yeast on top. Let it sit for a few minutes, then stir until it dissolves. Within 5 to 10 minutes the top of the mixture should have turned foamy, which means the yeast is working. If there is no activity, throw the yeast away and buy a new supply.