manual trans shifting issue

the car has been like this for quite some time, probably over a year now, ive learned to work around the problem but im really just curious if anyone knows what it could be,
its a 98 2.2 5 speed
when im in 3rd, 4th, or 5th, and i slow down to the point of needing to go down to 2nd gear, it will not go into 2nd without grinding unless you raise the rpms to like 1500, or unless you slow WAY down, to the point of almost needing to go into 1st instead,

any ideas?

I have replaced transmissions that started out with your problem and got progressively worse. You can try double clutching it and see if that helps get it into 2nd. Also try shifting into 1st with the clutch still in and then go into 2nd - if that works it could be the linkage. It's probably the trans, though.