This is normal. Multiple free squares in a row are only considered one "gap" in a nonogram, otherwise the numbers would automatically tell you everything and there'd be nothing to work out.

So, in beginner, 1 2 might mean any of

*_**__
*__**_
*___**
_*_**_
_*__**
__*_**

where you may have trailing spaces on either end, and the gap me be 1, 2, or 3 (which is as many fit on the row in this case, it could be much more on a bigger board)