An experimental study on the structure of a separated shear layer downstream of the backward-facing step has been performed by examining mean flow and turbulent quantities in terms of free stream turbulence. When free stream turbulence exists, the entrainment rate of the separated shear layer and the flow rate in the recirculation region are enhanced, resulting in shorter reattachment length. The production and diffusion terms in the turbulent kinetic energy balance are shown to increase more than the dissipation term does. Rapid decrease of the pressure-strain term in the shear stress balance implies the enhancement of the three-dimensional motion by free stream turbulence.