The Stacks project

Proof. Choose a presentation $R^{\oplus m} \to R^{\oplus n} \to M \to 0$. Dualizing we get an exact sequence

with $N' = \mathop{\mathrm{Im}}(N^{\oplus n} \to N^{\oplus m})$. A submodule of a module with depth $\geq 1$ has depth $\geq 1$; this follows immediately from the definition. Thus part (1) is clear. For (2) note that here the assumption and the previous remark implies $N'$ has depth $\geq 1$. The module $N^{\oplus n}$ has depth $\geq 2$. From Algebra, Lemma 10.72.6 we conclude $\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ R(M, N)$ has depth $\geq 2$. $\square$