The Stacks project

Proof. Let us translate the statement into algebra. Let $A$ be a ring. Let $M$ be a finitely presented $A$-module. Let $N$ be a nonzero $A$-module. Assume $\text{Supp}(N) \subset \text{Supp}(M)$. To show: $\mathop{\mathrm{Hom}}\nolimits _ A(M, N)$ is nonzero. We may assume $N = A/I$ is cyclic (replace $N$ by any nonzero cyclic submodule). Choose a presentation

Recall that $\text{Supp}(M)$ is cut out by $\text{Fit}_0(M)$ which is the ideal generated by the $n \times n$ minors of the matrix $T$. See More on Algebra, Lemma 15.8.4. The assumption $\text{Supp}(N) \subset \text{Supp}(M)$ now means that the elements of $\text{Fit}_0(M)$ are nilpotent in $A/I$. Consider the exact sequence

We have to show that $T^ t$ cannot be injective; we urge the reader to find their own proof of this using the nilpotency of elements of $\text{Fit}_0(M)$ in $A/I$. Here is our proof. Since $\text{Fit}_0(M)$ is finitely generated, the nilpotency means that the annihilator $J \subset A/I$ of $\text{Fit}_0(M)$ in $A/I$ is nonzero. To show the non-injectivity of $T^ t$ we may localize at a prime. Choosing a suitable prime we may assume $A$ is local and $J$ is still nonzero. Then $T^ t$ has a nonzero kernel by More on Algebra, Lemma 15.15.6. $\square$